Linking Sounds · Part 4 of 6

Linking R and Intrusive R in British English

In British English, the R at the end of a word is usually silent – until a vowel follows. Then it comes back: far /fɑː/, but far‿away /fɑːr əweɪ/. And sometimes an R appears where there is none in the spelling.

🇬🇧 British English (RP / General British). Press ▶ to hear any example.

1 Two Kinds of Accent

1Rhotic accents

American, Scottish, Irish and some English regional accents pronounce every written R: car [kɑːr], car park [kɑːr pɑːrk].

2Non-rhotic: British RP

Standard British English only pronounces R before a vowel sound: car [kɑː], car park [kɑː pɑːk] – but car engine [kɑːr endʒɪn].

So the linking R is a feature of non-rhotic accents. In a rhotic accent the R is always there anyway.

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2 Linking R

A word ends in a written R that is normally silent. The next word begins with a vowel – so the R is pronounced and links the two words.

far‿away
fa-ra-way[fɑːr əweɪ]
four‿apples
fo-rapples[fɔːr æplz]
after‿all
af-te-rall[ɑːftər ɔːl]
here‿and there
hee-rand there[hɪər ən ðeə]
there‿is
the-riz[ðeər ɪz]
never‿again
neve-ra-gain[nevər əgen]
more‿or less
mo-ror less[mɔːr ə les]
better‿off
bette-roff[betər ɒf]
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3 Intrusive R

Many British speakers also add an R between words where there is no R in the spelling. It happens after the vowels /ə/, /ɑː/ and /ɔː/ (and the diphthongs /ɪə/ and /eə/) when another vowel follows.

law‿and order
law-rand order[lɔːr ən ɔːdə]
the idea‿of it
idea-rof it[aɪdɪər əv ɪt]
China‿and Japan
China-rand[tʃaɪnər ən dʒəpæn]
I saw‿it
saw-rit[aɪ sɔːr ɪt]
media‿attention
media-ratt…[miːdiər ətenʃn]
vanilla‿ice cream
vanilla-rice[vənɪlər aɪs kriːm]
Inside words too: drawing is often [drɔːrɪŋ] and withdrawal [wɪðdrɔːrəl] in everyday British speech.
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4 Should You Use Intrusive R?

1The facts

Intrusive R is extremely common in British English, including among newsreaders, teachers and actors. Some people consider it careless, and some speakers avoid it in careful speech – often by putting a small break between the words instead.

2For you as a learner

You must recognise it – otherwise law and order sounds like lore and order, and China and like Chiner and. Whether you produce it is up to you. A smooth linking R is essential; intrusive R is optional.

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5 Exercises

A · Linking R, intrusive R, or no R?

Decide whether British RP has an R between the two words – and if so, which kind.

  1. four‿eggs
    Show answer
    Linking R – four has an R in the spelling: fo-reggs.
  2. car‿park
    Show answer
    No R – the next word starts with a consonant: [kɑː pɑːk].
  3. Africa‿and Asia
    Show answer
    Intrusive R – no R in the spelling: Africa-rand Asia.
  4. go‿out
    Show answer
    No R – this is /w/ linking: go-wout.
  5. your‿answer
    Show answer
    Linking R – you-ranswer.
  6. a comma‿or a full stop
    Show answer
    Intrusive R after comma (comma-ror), then linking R after or (or-ra).
  7. see‿it
    Show answer
    No R – this is /j/ linking: see-yit.
  8. pizza‿and pasta
    Show answer
    Intrusive R – pizza-rand pasta.
  9. water‿and juice
    Show answer
    Linking R – wate-rand juice.
  10. more‿milk
    Show answer
    No R – the next word starts with a consonant.

B · Say it

Listen, then say each sentence slowly and at natural speed. Focus on the linking R.

  1. Is it far‿away?
  2. There‿are four‿apples‿and‿a pear.
  3. After‿all, it’s your‿idea.
  4. I’ve never‿eaten here‿until today.
  5. Where‿are you going?
  6. We’re better‿off‿over here.
About the audio: computer voices don’t always produce linking or intrusive R. Trust the transcription and the rule – and listen for the R in British films, podcasts and the news.
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Keep It Flowing

You now know all four kinds of linking. Time to test your ear in the listening quiz.

Learn. Train. Use. Automate. Flow.

Next: Listening Quiz → Book a lesson

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