Rhotic vs Non-Rhotic Accents: How to Pronounce 'R' in British English
If you’re trying to sound more like a native speaker of Standard Southern British English (SSBE), also known as Received Pronunciation (RP), you’ll need to understand rhoticity — when the letter R is pronounced, and when it’s not.
This is one of the key features that separates this accent from many others, especially American, Irish, or Scottish accents.
Whether you’re reducing your accent, polishing your clarity, or simply curious about the workings of British English pronunciation, this post will guide you through:
What rhoticity is
How to know when to pronounce or drop an /r/
Common challenges for rhotic speakers
Practice sentences to internalise the pattern
Helpful next steps to continue your training
What Is Rhoticity?
Rhoticity refers to whether or not the letter R is pronounced in speech.
In rhotic accents, you pronounce every written R, no matter where it appears in the word.
In non-rhotic accents, you only pronounce the R if it's followed by a vowel sound — not just a vowel letter.
Which Accents Are Rhotic?
Rhotic accents are common in:
Scotland
Ireland
The West Country of England
Most of North America
In these areas, you’ll often hear the /r/ in words like car, hard, tuner, and party — even when the R comes at the end of a syllable or word.
Which Accents Are Non-Rhotic?
Standard Southern British English (SSBE) is non-rhotic, which means the /r/ is not pronounced unless it’s followed by a spoken vowel.
So in this accent, the /r/ is silent in:
Rebecca ran quickly through the flowers and around the river to catch Rover, her manic dog.
You would drop the /r/ in flowers, river, Rover, and her — because they are not followed by vowel sounds.
How to Avoid Pronouncing /r/ in This Accent
Here’s how to shift toward non-rhoticity in your own speech:
1. Tongue tip placement matters.
Keep the tip of your tongue down, behind your bottom front teeth. This helps avoid accidental /r/ pronunciation when they would be silent in this accent.
2. Be careful of your tongue root.
If you come from a background where the back of your tongue rises to create an /r/ (e.g. some French speakers), you'll need to train both the tip and the back of the tongue to stay relaxed and low.
3. Use similar sounding words to build awareness.
Try comparing rhotic vs. non-rhotic versions of words like:
Tuna vs. Tuner
Paw vs. Poor
Law vs. Lore
In a non-rhotic accent, tuna and tuner may sound identical — both ending with a schwa /ə/ sound.
Listen and Practise
You can hear and repeat these non-rhotic pronunciations in the video below or use the following practice sentences:
Listen and repeat:
Here we are. Our fourteenth anniversary party under the dark blue skies.
Cover your supper Matthew, your father worked hard to make it.
The more we argue the further you push us apart.
It is far worse to endure this hardship than I think you understand.
If you're a rhotic speaker, dropping the /r/ may feel incorrect at first. That's normal. With repetition, it will begin to feel natural.
How should the /r/ sound when it is pronounced?
In RP, when an /r/ is followed by a spoken vowel the tip of the tongue curves up towards the roof of the mouth. You can learn more about how to pronounce an R in this accent here.
Want to go deeper?
If you're ready to explore British English pronunciation in more detail — including vowels, intonation, and connected speech — my British English Pronunciation Roadmap eBook can help.
It includes 324 pages of guidance, over 12 hours of audio, and practical exercises to reshape your accent at your own pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a rhotic accent?
A rhotic accent is one in which the letter "R" is pronounced clearly wherever it appears in a word, including at the end of syllables and words. Examples include most accents in Scotland, Ireland, the West Country of England, and North America.
What is a non-rhotic accent?
In a non-rhotic accent, like Standard Southern British English (RP), "R" is only pronounced if it comes before a vowel sound. If there is no following vowel sound, the "R" is silent.
Is Received Pronunciation (RP) rhotic or non-rhotic?
RP is non-rhotic. That means the letter "R" is generally not pronounced at the end of words or syllables unless the next word begins with a vowel.
How can I practise avoiding R sounds in a non-rhotic accent?
One of the best ways is to compare rhotic and non-rhotic word pairs, such as "tuner" and "tuna." In a non-rhotic accent, both are pronounced with the tongue tip down and sound almost the same.
Why does my R sound strong even when I try to reduce it?
You may be unconsciously raising the tip or back of your tongue too high. Focus on keeping the tongue tip behind your bottom front teeth and relaxing the back of the tongue.
Does avoiding the R make me sound more British?
Using a non-rhotic R is a key feature of many British English accents, especially the Standard Southern British English accent. Reducing your R sound can help you sound more native-like in this accent.
Final Thoughts
Understanding rhoticity is a key step in mastering the Standard Southern British English accent. To recap:
Rhotic speakers say every /r/. Non-rhotic speakers don’t.
SSBE/RP is non-rhotic - only pronounce the /r/ if it’s followed by a spoken vowel.
Keeping the tongue relaxed and low will help avoid unintended /r/ sounds.
Listening to native models and repeating regularly helps build muscle memory.
With awareness, practice, and the right guidance, you can begin to sound more natural and confident in a non-rhotic British accent.
Ashley Howard is a UK-based voice coach with 18+ years of experience helping professionals and individuals develop clear, authentic, and confident communication.