Lips
Start slightly spread, as for "ih". As you glide, they simply relax to neutral. The diagram shows the spread start.
Diphthongs · British English
/ɪə/as in near
The British "near" vowel: glide from a short "ih" down to a weak "uh". There is no r sound at the end.
Example words: near, here, beer, year, idea
Mouth
How do you pronounce the /ɪə/ sound?
Tongue
Start high-front. Let it relax down and back to the mid-central "uh" position. The tip stays low the whole time: no curling.
Length
Medium. The "ih" start is the stronger part; the "uh" ending is soft and fades away.
Video lesson
Try it
- Start a short, clear "ih" with slightly spread lips.
- While the voice continues, let everything relax toward a weak "uh".
- Stop there. Do not curl the tongue or add any r.
- Try it in words: near, here, beer.
Check
Say "here" and listen to the ending. It should fade into a soft "uh" with zero r colour. If you hear any r, you are producing the American version instead.
Common trap
Adding an r at the end. This is the British version: it melts into a weak "uh", nothing more. The other trap is splitting it into two beats instead of one glide.
Practice: /ɪə/
Words
nearnˌɪə
herehˈɪə
beerbˈɪə
yearjˈɪə
ideaaɪdˈɪə
Sentences
Come here, the bus stop is near.kˈʌm hˈɪə, ðə bˈʌs stˈɒp ɪz nˌɪə.
We're moving to a new flat this year.wˌɪə mˈuːvɪŋ tə ɐ njˈuː flˈat ðɪs jˈɪə.
I have a clear idea about it.ˌaɪ hav ɐ klˈɪə aɪdˈɪə əbˈaʊt ɪt.
They serve cheap beer near the pier.ðˌeɪ sˈɜːv tʃˈiːp bˈɪə nˌɪə ðə pˈɪə.
Did you hear the strange noise here?dˈɪd juː hˈɪə ðə stɹˈeɪndʒ nˈɔɪz hˈɪə?
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Sounds in the same group
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