Try this experiment: pronounce the vowels а (like "ah") and й (like "ee" in "meet") one after another, reducing the time between them as they get closer to each other in the picture.
As you blend the vowels together, they will turn into the compound vowel sound of the word "eye".
The phancy name for this phonetic phoolishness is a diphthong, pronounced díf-thong, or also díp-thong.
Here are the main diphthongs that you will find in Russian:
| Diphthong | Sounds like |
|---|---|
| ай | eye |
| яй | yi as in yikes! |
| эй | ay as in day |
| ей | yay |
| ой | oi as in oil |
| ий | ee as in eek (pronounced longer than when uncombined) |
| ↑ Coffee and Tea |