oy sound

Core Rule

oy represents the diphthong /ɔɪ/, a smooth glide from a back vowel to a high front vowel. It usually appears at the end of syllables, as in boy and toy.

Articulation Guide

Start with a slightly rounded mouth and back tongue position for /ɔ/, then glide forward with relaxed lips to /ɪ/. Keep the airflow continuous.

Word Analysis

In ponytail, oy is pronounced /ɔɪ/. Blend it smoothly in po-ny-tail without breaking the sound.

Pitfalls

Do not reduce oy to /o/ or confuse it with /ai/. Remember oy and oi sound the same but follow different spelling rules.