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2.5 Spelling-pronunciation rules for vowels plus /r/

/ɪr/ Examples of spellings that represent /ɪr/

tear (traan) – /tɪr/

deer – /dɪr/

here – /hɪr/

Also: weird – /wɪrd/, pierce – /pɪrs/

Rule: Words with ear normally have /ɪr/, but /ɛr/ occurs in: bear (n/v), pear, sweat, tear (n/v: scheur(en)), wear.

bear (n/v)

pear

tear (n/v: scheur(en))

 

/ʊr/ Examples of spellings that represent /ʊr/

tour – /tʊr/

Europe – /ˈjʊrəp/

cure – /kjʊr/

Note: In more frequent words, some speakers use /ɜr/ instead of /ʊr/, as in touring /tɜrɪŋ/, sure /ʃɜr/, though never in moor, for instance.

 

/ɛr/ Examples of spellings that represent /ɛr/

dare – /dɛr/

fair – /fɛr/

parent – /ˈpɛrənt/

 

/ɔr/ Examples of spellings that represent /ɔr/

war – /wɔr/

cord – /kɔrd/

moral – /ˈmɔrəl/

 

/ɑr/ Examples of spellings that represent /ɑr/

heart – /hɑrt/

card – /kɑrd/

starred – /stɑrd/

 

/ɜr/ Examples of spellings that represent /ɜr/

bird – /bɜrd/

learn – /lɜrn/

word – /wɜrd/

Exceptional spelling: with our adjourn (/əˈd͡ʒɜrn/ verdagen), journal, journey, courtesy, scourge (gesel(en)).

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An Introduction to American English Phonetics Copyright © by Ton Broeders and Carlos Gussenhoven is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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