The word ‘iron’ looks simple and straightforward but actually there’s a catch here. If we go by the spelling, we might think that it should be pronounced ay-ron.
But actually there is no vowel between the R and the N. The pronunciation is ay-uhrn, or in IPA: [ˈaɪ.əɹn].
To pronounce this word, start with the diphthong ‘ay’, as in the word ‘my’. Then transition to the second syllable by adding a schwa sound followed by the R sound and an N sound.
Watch my tutorial on how to pronounce ‘iron’ and practice with me:
Once you watch the video and practice, let me know in the comments if the pronunciation of the word ‘iron’ surprised you.
Curious about other tricky English words? Check out my tutorials on ‘colonel’, ‘February’, ‘choir’, and if you need extra help with pronunciation of the American R sound, this free training can really move you forward.
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Additional resources:
American R sound Boot camp + Free audio sheet for Practice
