If you have ever stared at the word rhinoceros and wondered what to do with that H, you are not alone. Here is the good news: in English, when a word starts with RH, the H is always silent. You only pronounce the R.
The Rule in One Sentence
Word-initial RH is pronounced as plain /r/. The H is invisible to your ear. Rhyme sounds exactly like rime. Rhubarb starts with the same /r/ as run.
Why? The Greek Connection
Almost every English word that begins with RH comes from Ancient Greek. Greek had a special letter (rho) that was traditionally transliterated into Latin as RH to mark a so-called rough breathing. English kept the spelling for tradition, but the breathing was lost centuries ago. The H is now purely decorative.
Practice the Pattern
Common RH Words You Should Know
- Rhyme /raɪm/, Rhythm /ˈrɪðəm/, Rhinoceros /raɪˈnɑːsərəs/
- Rhubarb /ˈruːbɑːrb/, Rhetoric /ˈrɛtərɪk/, Rhetorical /rɪˈtɔːrɪkəl/
- Rhapsody /ˈræpsədi/, Rheumatism /ˈruːmətɪzəm/, Rhombus /ˈrɑːmbəs/
The Same Rule Inside Compounds
The silent H survives even when RH appears in the middle of a compound word built from Greek roots:
- Hemorrhage /ˈhɛmərɪdʒ/, Diarrhea /ˌdaɪəˈriːə/
- Cirrhosis /sɪˈroʊsɪs/, Catarrh /kəˈtɑːr/
Notice the double RR followed by H: still no H sound, just one /r/.
Are There Any Exceptions?
For native English vocabulary the rule has no exceptions. The only place you might hear an aspirated H is in proper names from languages other than Greek, for example Rhett. Even there, most speakers pronounce it like plain Rett.
Why This Matters for Your Speaking
Adding a small /h/ sound after the R is one of the fastest ways to sound non-native. Saying r-hythm or r-hinoceros with a breathy H is a giveaway. Drop the H completely and your pronunciation immediately sounds more natural.
Quick Self-Test
Read these words aloud, focusing only on the R:
- rhyme
- rhinoceros
- rhubarb
- rhythm
- rhetoric
- hemorrhage
If they all began with the same clean /r/ as run, you have the rule.
Summary
Whenever you see RH at the start of an English word, ignore the H. It is a Greek souvenir kept only for spelling. Pronounce the word as if the H were not there.