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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

forcornbornforkstorm

Words that use this rule

244 words in the SnapPhonics dictionary use this rule. Tap any word to see how it breaks into sounds. Showing the first 200 alphabetically.

absorbabsorbsactoradorableadornadornedairportallegoricalarmorarticulatoryauthorauthorityboredboringbornborrowchoruscolorcoloredcolorfulcoloringcolorscolorshiftingcomfortcomfortablecomfortedcommemoratecommemoratingcommemorativecorcordcordlesscordonedcorioliscorncornercornerstonecorrectcorrectedcorrectioncorrectlycorrectnesscorrespondencecyborgdecoratedecorateddecorationdeteriorateddistortiondoctordorkeffortlessemperoremperorsendeavorendeavorsenforceenormouserrorsexplorationexploringexpositoryextraordinaryfactoryfavorfavoriteflavorflavorsfolkloricforforceforcedforcesforcingforeignforestforeverforgeforgetforgivenessforgotforkformformalformatformationformedformingformsfortforthfortunateforwardglorygorgehistoricalhistoryhonorhonoringhonorshorizonhornhornshorriblehorrorhorsehorsemanignoredimmortalimportimportanceimportantimprovisatoryincorporateincorporatesincorporatinginformationkoreankoreaslaborlordlorrylotusiformmanormemorialmemorializememorializesmemorymirrormorningmorphologymortalmortalitymotorbikemotorwayneighbornormalnormallynortheastnorthernnorwegianobfuscatoryopportunityorangeorangesorbitorbitalorchestrateorchestratesorchestrationorderorderedordinaryorganorganizeorganizedoriginaloriginallyoriginateoriginatingornamentationorphanorthographyperformanceperformativityperformerphantasmagoriapictorialplatformpopcornporchportportionportraitportraitureportrayportraysprioritiesprocessorprofessorproportionrecordrecordsreformreinforcereinforcingreorganizereorganizedreportrepositorysavoryscissorsscorchscornfulseahorsesectorshortshortershortestshortly

Exceptions

After W, OR makes /ɜːr/ instead — see r_controlled_or_er.

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