An r-controlled vowel is a vowel followed by the letter r, where the r changes the vowel's usual pronunciation, creating a new vowel sound.
| Pattern |
Example Words |
IPA (BrE) |
IPA (AmE) |
| ar |
car, park, star |
/ɑː/ |
/ɑr/ |
| er |
her, term, fern |
/ɜː/ |
/ɝ/ |
| ir |
bird, first, girl |
/ɜː/ |
/ɝ/ |
| ur |
turn, burn, nurse |
/ɜː/ |
/ɝ/ |
| or |
fork, storm, horse |
/ɔː/ |
/ɔr/ |
| ear |
learn, pearl, early |
/ɜː/ |
/ɝ/ |
| air |
fair, chair, hair |
/eə/ |
/er/ |
| are |
care, share, square |
/eə/ |
/er/ |
| ear |
bear, wear, pear |
/eə/ |
/er/ |
| ear |
hear, fear, near |
/ɪə/ |
/ɪr/ |
| Normal Pattern |
Pronunciation |
R-Controlled Pattern |
Pronunciation |
| cat |
/kæt/ |
cart |
/kɑːt/ (BrE), /kɑrt/ (AmE) |
| pet |
/pet/ |
pert |
/pɜːt/ (BrE), /pɝt/ (AmE) |
| bit |
/bɪt/ |
bird |
/bɜːd/ (BrE), /bɝd/ (AmE) |
| cut |
/kʌt/ |
curt |
/kɜːt/ (BrE), /kɝt/ (AmE) |
| cot |
/kɒt/ (BrE) |
cord |
/kɔːd/ (BrE), /kɔrd/ (AmE) |