Lips
Start mid-open, as for "eh". As you glide, they relax to neutral. The diagram shows the mid-open start.
Diphthongs · British English
/eə/as in square
The British "square" vowel: glide from an open "eh" back to a weak "uh". No r sound at the end.
Example words: square, hair, there, care, wear
Mouth
How do you pronounce the /eə/ sound?
Tongue
Start mid-front. Let it drift back to the central "uh" position while the voice continues. The tip never curls.
Length
Medium to long. Keep the "eh" start strong; the "uh" ending is light and fades out.
Video lesson
Try it
- Open to mid position and start a clear "eh".
- While the sound continues, relax back toward a weak "uh".
- Finish soft, with the tongue tip resting low: no r.
- Try it in words: square, hair, there.
Check
Say "hair" slowly. You should hear "eh" melting into a soft "uh", and the ending should have no r colour at all. If an r creeps in, that is the American version.
Common trap
Ending with an r: this British version finishes on a plain weak "uh". Also splitting it into two beats, or freezing on "eh" with no movement.
Practice: /eə/
Words
squareskwˈɛː
hairhˈɛː
thereðɛː
carekˈɛː
wearwˈɛː
Sentences
She has fair hair and blue eyes.ʃˌiː haz fˈɛː hˈɛː and blˈuː ˈaɪz.
There are chairs over there by the square.ðˌɛː ɑː tʃˈɛːz ˈəʊvə ðɛː baɪ ðə skwˈɛː.
Take care when you go up the stairs.tˈeɪk kˈɛː wˌɛn juː ɡˌəʊ ˌʌp ðə stˈɛːz.
I can't wear this shirt anywhere.ˌaɪ kˈɑːnt wˈɛː ðɪs ʃˈɜːt ˈɛnɪwɛː.
They share a flat near the square.ðˌeɪ ʃˈɛː ɐ flˈat nˌɪə ðə skwˈɛː.
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Sounds in the same group
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Accenty listens to you speak and shows the sounds you miss, in British English.
