rhotic

[ roh-tik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a dialect of English in which the r is pronounced at the end of a syllable or before a consonant:

   Midwestern American English is rhotic, while Southern British English is not.

2. of, relating to, or being an r- like sound.

noun

1. a rhotic sound.

rhotic

/ ˈrəʊtɪk; rəʊˈtɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. phonetics denoting or speaking a dialect of English in which postvocalic r s are pronounced

Derived Forms

• rhoticity, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhotic¹

rhot- ( rhotacism ) + -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhotic¹

from Greek rho , the letter r

Example Sentences

Researchers also said that while rhotic Blackburn and East Lancashire speakers may be in the minority in England, they were "in the majority across the English-speaking world", as North American, Scottish and Irish speakers also use that pronunciation, "as do many second language learners of English".

From BBC

Irish English is also rhotic, meaning the “r” is overpronounced.

From New York Times

Irish English is also rhotic, meaning the “r” is overpronounced.

From New York Times

Love his humour, and consonants rhotic: There is nothing as firm as his R’s.

From Washington Post

While many areas in England held on to their rhotic origins, received pronunciation came to be seen as the ideal English accent; even spreading into Wales and Scotland.

From The Guardian