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R phoneme /r/
/r/ is a consonant phoneme that occurs in English as one of the standard English phonemes.[1]
Naming[edit | edit source]
Like other phonemes, naming this can be difficult. It could be called R after its symbol, but in non-rhotic accents, as /ɑ:/, this doesn't include /r/! Alternatively, it could be called ruh /rə/ after its sound when initial, or lengthened to rrr /r:/.
Phonotactics[edit | edit source]
When /r/ is in coda position, we analyse it as part of the preceding vowel sound. The phonemes for ɴᴏʀᴛʜ, ꜱǫᴜᴀʀᴇ, ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ and ɴᴜʀꜱᴇ are all rhotic. Additionally, ᴄᴜʀᴇ and ɴᴇᴀʀ may be rhotic.
That means /r/ can only appear in initial position. It also occurs as part of several initial consonant clusters:
- Initial consonant cluster /br/
- Initial consonant cluster /dr/
- Initial consonant cluster /fr/
- Initial consonant cluster /gr/
- Initial consonant cluster /kr/
- Initial consonant cluster /pr/
- Initial consonant cluster /skr/
- Initial consonant cluster /spr/
- Initial consonant cluster /str/
- Initial consonant cluster /tr/
- Initial consonant cluster /ʃr/
- Initial consonant cluster /θr/
Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
The standard pronunciation of this sound is as labialized postalveolar approximant [ɹ̠ʷ]. However, there are several possible variations on this.[2]
Spelling[edit | edit source]
Spelling is consistently ⟨r⟩, ⟨rr⟩, ⟨rh⟩, or ⟨wr⟩.
Phonograms | Example words | Notes |
---|---|---|
⟨r⟩ | ||
⟨rr⟩ | ||
⟨rh⟩ | rhapsody, rhesus, rhino, Rhiannon, Rhys, Rhadyr, Rhondda, Rhyl | |
⟨wr⟩ | wreak, Wright, write, wrong, wrought |