I Swear English › Pronunciation › The /er/ Sound - Bird, Word, Heard
How to form the the /er/ sound
302 The Sound ɜː Heard Her Bird Word Turn:
When to use it
- The long /ɜː/ is the sound in bird. Relax your lips into a neutral, central position and hold the sound.
- There is no clear r in it in British English — it's a long, even vowel.
Example words: bird, word, heard, her, turn, learn, world, first, nurse, work
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Common mistakes to avoid
| Not quite… | Better |
|---|---|
| Pronouncing a strong American-style ‘r’ in bird | In standard British English the /ɜː/ is a pure vowel — bɜːd, with no hard r. |
| Making it too short | It's a long vowel — hold it: her is longer than head. |
Frequently asked questions
Why do ‘bird, word, heard’ rhyme?
Because the spelling differs but the vowel sound is the same long /ɜː/. English spelling hides how regular the sound really is.
How do I position my mouth?
Lips relaxed and slightly spread, tongue in the middle of the mouth, jaw half-open — then hold it steady.
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This lesson is part of our free English Pronunciation and Phonetics course — work through it in order or jump to what you need next.