ARar
R-Controlled AR
When R comes after A, it changes the sound to “ar”, like in 'car' and 'star'.
How this rule works
When A is followed by R, the R 'bosses' the vowel and changes its sound. Instead of short A or long A, you hear “ar”. R-controlled vowels are sometimes called 'Bossy R'.
Remember: Bossy R takes the car to the farm!
Examples
Words that use this rule
225 words in the SnapPhonics dictionary use this rule. Tap any word to see how it breaks into sounds. Showing the first 200 alphabetically.
angularapartmentararabesquesarcadearcharchaeologicalarchitectarchitecturearchitecturesareareaareasaren'targuearmarmchairarmorarmsarmyarozearrangedarrivedartarticulatesarticulationarticulatoryartifactsartisansartistartisticartistryartistsavatarbarbecuebargainbargebarkbarkingbarragebarrelboundarycarcarboncardcaredcareercaringcarpcarpetcarriedcarriercarriescarrotcarrycarryingcartcartooncartridgecarvedcarvingcellarcharactercharacteristiccharacterscharadechargechargedchargingcharmchartcompareddarkdarkerdarklydarknessdartdeclareddictionarydollaregalitarianexemplarexpeditionaryextraordinaryfamiliarfarfarawayfarcefarmfarmerfarmingfebruaryforwardfunerarygarbgardengnarlgrammargrandparentsguardguardianguardingguitarguitaristhardharderhardlyhardnesshardshipharmfulharmlessharmonizationharshnessheadquarteredheadscarfinfraredjanuaryjarlargelargelylargerlargestlarklibrarylizardlunarmacaronmacaronsmarchmarkmarketmarksmarriagemarriedmarrymarsmars'smarshmartinmartyrmarvin'smarymilitarynarrativenarrowordinaryparachuteparadeparadigmparadigmaticparadigmsparadoxicalparentparentsparkparkingparrotpartparticipationpartnerpartypharmacyplanetarypolarpopularpreparationpreparedquarterquartzradarrampartregardregardedremarkremarkablesafeguardingscarscarcescaredscarfscholarsecretariessecretaryseparateseparationsharingsharksharpsharpestsharplysharpnesssingularitysmartsmartestsnarlsparksparrowsparsestandardizedstar
What is SnapPhonics?
A phonics reference for teachers, parents and learners. Every English word, broken into the sounds that make it — with audio, syllables, and the rule behind each spelling.
Save words to study lists, build flashcard decks, and scan your own worksheets and books.