IPA: /ɜː/ — The Long "Er" Sound (also written as /ɜ/ or /ɜː/)
The /ɜː/ sound (also called "schwa with r-coloring" in American English when it’s /ɝ/) is a mid-central, tense vowel. It’s the sound we hear in stressed syllables like "bird," "girl," or "learn."
It is longer and stronger than /ə/, which is always unstressed.
In British English: /ɜː/ (e.g., "learn" /lɜːn/)
In American English: Usually /ɝ/ or /ɜr/ (e.g., "learn" /lɝn/)
❓How to Know if It’s the /ɜː/ Sound:
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It occurs in stressed syllables.
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Sounds like "er" but with a tense, central vowel.
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Spelled with: "ir," "ur," "er," "ear," "or" (in some words).
🔊Sample Words with /ɜː/:
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Bird
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Girl
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First
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Turn
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Learn
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Word
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Heard
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Nurse
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Work
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Shirt
📝 Simple Sentences with /ɜː/:
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The bird is on the tree.
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She is a smart girl.
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He came first in the race.
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Please turn the page.
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I want to learn English.
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That is a strange word.
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I heard a loud noise.
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The nurse is kind.
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I have to go to work.
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He wore a blue shirt.
🔁 Tongue Twisters with /ɜː/:
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A thirsty bird turned and chirped.
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The first nurse heard the worst word.
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A girl in a shirt learned new words.
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Thirty birds heard thirty words.
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Turn, turn, turn — said the firm bird.
📖 Short Story with /ɜː/ Sound:
The First Bird to Learn Words
One morning, a little bird sat on a tree near a girl. The girl said the word "hello."
The bird listened. The next day, the bird said, "Hello!"
The girl smiled. "You’re the first bird to learn a word!"
Soon, the bird could say, "Turn left," "Work hard," and "Good morning!"
The nurse next door heard it and told her friends. The bird became famous!
Now, every day, people come to hear the clever bird say his favorite words.
