r-controlled Vowel: air sound /ɛr/

Listen to the air sound

The air sound is an r-controlled vowel. Technically this sound is two distinct sounds (vowel sound + r sound). It is presented here under the name air sound to distinguish the fact that the vowel portion of the sound is different from the long a (although the sound's spellings are very similar to those for the long a).

How to pronounce the air sound

The air sound begins with the tongue rounded slightly upward in the middle of the mouth. The sides of the tongue may lightly touch the bottom teeth during the formation of the beginning of this sound.

To transition to the r portion of the sound, the body of the tongue moves upward and forward. The mid-section of the tongue raises so the sides of the tongue touch the mid-side teeth. The air travels over the body of the tongue to create the r portion of the sound. (NOTE: The secondary method of producing the r sound may be used to produce second portion of the air sound instead of this technique.)

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Common air sound spellings

spelling	example		other pronunciations for spelling
air	chair pair stair		none
are	dare rare scare		none

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The air sound in suffixes

spelling	example		other pronunciations for spelling
-ary	contrary primary dictionary		none

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Non-phonetic air sound words
The air sound is underlined in the following words:
there/their/they're where stereo terrible

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Pronuncian Lessons

  

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