The sound /ɜr/ high, central, lax vowel
Spelling:
- "er" - her, certain
- "ear" - learn, heard
- "ur" - burn, surface
- "ir" - bird, dirty
- "or" - word, worthy
Note: Most of these spellings may also represent other vowels followed by /r/.
/ɜr/.../ɜr/.../ɜr/.../ɜr/...
church...nurse...learn...burden
church...nurse...learn...burden
COMPARE
Compare /ɜr/ with /ʌ/:
/ɜr/.../ʌ/.../ɜr/.../ʌ/.../ɜr/.../ʌ/...
These are both central, lax vowels. However, /ɜr/ is a high vowel and /ʌ/ is a mid vowel. The vowel /ɜr/ sounds like a blend of /ʌ/ and /r/.
These are both central, lax vowels. However, /ɜr/ is a high vowel and /ʌ/ is a mid vowel. The vowel /ɜr/ sounds like a blend of /ʌ/ and /r/.
You can hear the difference between /ɜr/ and /ʌ/ in these words.
1. A. lurk, B. luck
2. A. search, B. such
3. A. bird, B. bud
4. A. fern, B. fun
5. A. murder, B. mutter
6. A. sermon, B. summon
2. A. search, B. such
3. A. bird, B. bud
4. A. fern, B. fun
5. A. murder, B. mutter
6. A. sermon, B. summon
Now compare /ɜr/ with /ɑ/:
/ɜr/.../ɑ/.../ɜr/.../ɑ/.../ɜr/.../ɑ/...
These are both central vowels. However, /ɜr/ is a high vowel and /ɑ/ is a low vowel. When you pronounce /ɜr/, the sides of your tongue should lightly touch your upper teeth.
These are both central vowels. However, /ɜr/ is a high vowel and /ɑ/ is a low vowel. When you pronounce /ɜr/, the sides of your tongue should lightly touch your upper teeth.
You can hear the difference between /ɜr/ and /ɑ/ in these words.
1. A. curb, B. cob
2. A. hurt, B. hot
3. A. clerk, B. clock
4. A. surfed, B. soft
5. A. earner, B. honor
6. A. gurgle, B. goggle
2. A. hurt, B. hot
3. A. clerk, B. clock
4. A. surfed, B. soft
5. A. earner, B. honor
6. A. gurgle, B. goggle
PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
1. stir
2. purse
3. church
4. surf
5. learn
6. curb
7. perk
8. birth
9. purpose
10. research
2. purse
3. church
4. surf
5. learn
6. curb
7. perk
8. birth
9. purpose
10. research
11. merge
12. dessert
13. burned
14. furnace
15. hurdle
16. courage
17. personal
18. certain
19. murder
20. furthermore
12. dessert
13. burned
14. furnace
15. hurdle
16. courage
17. personal
18. certain
19. murder
20. furthermore
Now, practice /ɜr/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
1. return - curfew
You need to return before your curfew.
2. certain - weren't - burned
Are you certain you weren't burned?
3. heard - learned - surf
I heard that you learned to surf.
4. first - serve - dessert
First we'll eat dinner, and then I'll serve dessert.
5. early - work - personal
I got up early to work on a personal project.
6. further - merge
Drive a little further, then merge into the next lane.
You need to return before your curfew.
2. certain - weren't - burned
Are you certain you weren't burned?
3. heard - learned - surf
I heard that you learned to surf.
4. first - serve - dessert
First we'll eat dinner, and then I'll serve dessert.
5. early - work - personal
I got up early to work on a personal project.
6. further - merge
Drive a little further, then merge into the next lane.
To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:
Consonants /d/ and /g/
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