ORor
R-Controlled OR
When R comes after O, it makes the “or” sound, like in 'for' and 'corn'.
How this rule works
OR makes the “or” sound. Unlike ER, IR, UR which all sound the same, OR has its own distinct sound. The companion rule r_controlled_or_er covers the “er” pronunciation after W (word, work).
Remember: OR — the horse in the corner says “or”!
Examples
Words that use this rule
192 words in the SnapPhonics dictionary use this rule. Tap any word to see how it breaks into sounds.
absorbsactoradorableadornedallegoricalarmorarticulatoryauthorauthorityboredboringbornborrowchoruscolorcoloredcolorfulcoloringcolorscolorshiftingcomfortcomfortablecomfortedcommemoratingcommemorativecorcordcordlesscorncornercornerstonecorrectcorrectedcorrectioncorrectlycorrectnesscorrespondencecyborgdecoratedecorateddecorationdeteriorateddistortiondoctordorkeffortlessemperorsendeavorsenforceenormousexplorationexploringextraordinaryfactoryfavorfavoriteflavorsforforceforcedforcesforcingforeignforestforgeforgetforgivenessforkformformalformationformingformsfortforthforwardglorygorgehistoricalhistoryhonorhonoringhonorshorizonhornhorriblehorseignoredimportanceimportantimprovisatoryincorporatesincorporatinginformationkoreankoreaslaborlordlorrymemorialmemorializememorializesmemorymirrormorningmortalmotorbikemotorwayneighbornormallynorthernobfuscatoryorangeorbitorbitalorchestrationorderorderedordinaryorganoriginaloriginallyoriginatingornamentationorphanorthographyperformanceperformativitypictorialplatformporchportportionportraitportraitureportraysprioritiesprocessorprofessorproportionrecordrecordsreformreinforcingreorganizedreportrepositorysavoryscissorsscorchscornfulsectorshortshortershortestshortlyshortssnortsorrowsorrowfulsorrysortsortingsportsportsstoragestoriesstorkstormstorystubbornnesssupportsupportsswordswornthoroughtomorrowtorchtorntortoisetractortrajectorytransformtransformationtransformsuncomfortableunfortunateuniformuniformsvigorouswornzoomorphic
Exceptions
After W, OR makes /ɜːr/ instead — see r_controlled_or_er.
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.