Quiz: When to pronounce the Letter R in British English

It is quite easy to know when or when not to pronounce the letter R. The letter R is always pronounced in American English. In British English, things are a bit more complicated - R is pronounced before vowels and never before consonants.

Examples of British English:

The letter R is pronounced in words like
* train, grow, greeting, grass, frame
because R is followed by a vowel

The letter R is not pronounced in words like
* cart, forty, person, farm
because R is followed by a consonant

Easy, don't you think so?

There is a slight complication.
The letter R is the final sound in a words and this word is followed by a words that begins with a vowel. In this case R is pronounced.

* A book for Arnold, for ever, far away
because R is followed by a vowel in the next word.

Slightly tricky
* We are at home

R in are is pronounced because the following word starts with a vowel

* We are never at home

R is not pronounced because e in the words are is a silent letter. R is followed by a consonant and not pronounced in British English.

Here are the 10 sentences again. All letters R that are pronounced are in capitals. The number behind each sentence indicates how many letters R are pronounced.

1. TRy to Remember that you dRive on the left in Britain. (4)

2. Rosy pRefers fResh stRawbeRries and cReam (6)

3. FatheR and mother weRe away all morning.(2)

4. I Remember that last year the weather was warmeR and Rainier.(3)

This one is tricky. R in warmer is pronounced when you say this sentence in flowing speech. If 'and rainier' is an afterthought, there is a pause between 'warmer' and ' rainier'. In this case R ins warnmer is not pronounced

5. Gordon bought a dark purple blazer with a superb fur collar. (0)

6. Gordon is a Rather peculiar sort of person. (1)

7. Richard was dReaming about tRavelling thRough a stRange country. (5)

8. I Remember the fouR of us cRossing a bRidge oveR a River. (6)

9. The toddler Ran Right acRoss the Road when she saw her fatheR and mother. (5)

10. Red Roses are foRever. (3)