Monophthongization is a phonetic process where a complex vowel sound, known as a diphthong, is simplified into a single, pure vowel sound called a monophthong. This change often occurs in various languages and dialects, affecting how words are pronounced over time. For example, in some English dialects, the diphthong in the word "ride" may be pronounced more like a single vowel sound. This phenomenon can be observed in different languages, including Spanish and Italian, where certain diphthongs are regularly pronounced as monophthongs. Monophthongization can influence regional accents and contribute to the evolution of language, making it an important aspect of phonetics and linguistics.