rhotic

American  

[roh-tik] / ˈroʊ tɪk /

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.

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noun

1. a rhotic sound.

rhotic British  

/ ˈrəʊtɪk, rəʊˈtɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

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

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Other Word Forms

• rhoticity noun

Etymology

Origin of rhotic

rhot- ( see rhotacism) + -ic

Example Sentences

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

From New York Times • Jul. 1, 2023

Speakers with rhotic accents pronounce the /r/ before consonants and at the end of a word.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

Many, mainly regional, differences in pronunciation are often marked by rhotic and non-rhotic accents.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

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 • Jul. 24, 2017

Voters don’t cast their ballots based on which candidates best trill the rhotic consonants in foreign leaders’ names.

From Slate • Sep. 25, 2016