Keyword NURSE
/ɜː/as in “bird”
How to make it
- Keep your jaw half open and your lips relaxed.
- Hold your tongue in the middle of your mouth.
- American: bunch or curl your tongue as for "r" through the whole vowel. British: keep the tongue flat and add no r.
Common mistake
Saying two sounds, "e" plus "r", or a rounded "or" ("ward" for "word", "walk" for "work").
In words
Listen at normal speed or slowly, then say it yourself.
- bird
- word
- learn
US and UK
British English
/ɜː/
American English
/ɝː/
The r after vowels
American English pronounces r wherever it is written (car, water, bird). British English only pronounces it before a vowel.
| American | British | |
|---|---|---|
| car | /kɑːr/ | /kɑː/ |
| water | /ˈwɑːt̬ɚ/ | /ˈwɔːtə/ |
| bird | /bɝːd/ | /bɜːd/ |
| here | /hɪr/ | /hɪə/ |