ar variant

Core Rule

The ar vowel shift describes how a changes under the influence of r, no longer sounding like /æ/ but gliding toward /eə/. This sound is most commonly spelled air, as in airplane and hair.

Articulation Guide

Start with a mid-low tongue position moving slightly forward. Keep the mouth half open, then gently widen it. Airflow is smooth; avoid heavy rhotic curling while maintaining r resonance.

Word Analysis

• airplane: air- is /eə/, not /æ/; plane keeps /eɪ/.
• hair: a single-syllable word where air forms one unified /eə/ sound.

Pitfalls

Do not read air as short a, and do not over-rhoticize it to /ɑr/. Contrast car vs. hair to hear the difference.