Monophthongization of diphthongs in Proto-Slavic

A set of sound changes in which Proto-Slavic diphthongs became single vowels. Their outcomes depended on the diphthong and its phonological environment.

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Proto-Slavic *ou: The Proto-Slavic diphthong conventionally reconstructed as *ou, which developed into a single vowel. Its monophthongization illustrates the change affecting the back diphthong.
Proto-Slavic language: The reconstructed common ancestor of the Slavic languages, spoken before their historical diversification. The diphthong changes belong to the reconstruction of this common ancestor.
Proto-Slavic *au: The Proto-Slavic diphthong conventionally reconstructed as *au, whose reflexes include monophthongized vowels. Its branch reflexes provide a case of back-diphthong development.
Proto-Indo-European diphthongs: Diphthongs reconstructed for Proto-Indo-European, including sequences conventionally written *ei, *oi, and *ai. Some Proto-Slavic diphthongs continue older Indo-European vowel sequences.
Proto-Slavic *ei: The Proto-Slavic diphthong conventionally reconstructed as *ei, with outcomes that varied across Slavic branches. Its development shows that front diphthongs followed a different path from *ou.
Diphthong: A vowel sound that changes quality within one syllable. The sound change begins with sequences reconstructed as single-syllable diphthongs.
Proto-Slavic *ai in the Baltic-Slavic period: The reconstructed *ai sequence in the ancestral period shared by Baltic and Slavic, with distinct later developments. Comparisons with Baltic forms help assess the history of the Slavic reflex.
Balto-Slavic languages: The proposed ancestral grouping of Baltic and Slavic languages, supported by shared linguistic features. Shared Baltic-Slavic evidence helps date and reconstruct inherited vowel sequences.
Proto-Slavic *ai: The Proto-Slavic diphthong conventionally reconstructed as *ai, often associated with the development of long *ě. Its outcome connects diphthong monophthongization with the history of *ě.
Monophthong: A vowel sound whose quality remains relatively steady within one syllable. The change converts diphthongs into this kind of vowel.