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Vowel
ER (Bird, Nurse)
The R-controlled vowel sound heard in words like "bird", "nurse", "learn", and "turn". This is a mid-central vowel followed by an R sound. In American English, this sound is typically rhotic (the R is pronounced).
Phonetic
ərVoicing
VoicedPlace of Articulation
Mid-central (with r-coloring)Manner of Articulation
R-colored Vowel (Rhotic Vowel)Mouth Position
The lips are relaxed and slightly rounded. The tongue is in the middle of the mouth, neither high nor low, front nor back, with the tip slightly curled back. The jaw is in a neutral position, slightly open.
How to Make This Sound
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Example Words
birdMain Example
bərdnurse
nərslearn
lərnturn
tərnfirst
fərstwork
wərkgirl
gərlearth
ərthheard
hərdword
wərdPronunciation Practice
11 words
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Quick Practice
3-5 essential words
Full Practice
All 11 words
Tongue Twister
Practice: Vowel
“Thirty dirty purple birds chirp and whistle. | Bert's nurse works where herbs serve birds. | The early bird serves words to worms on perfect perches. | Earnest workers search for purple shirts in dirty laundry. | Thirteen thirsty turtles hurdle over perfect ferns.”
Practice this tongue twister to improve your pronunciation