ER, IR and UR Words – R-Controlled Vowel Spelling Practice
Learn and practice words with the R-controlled vowels ER, IR, and UR. These spelling patterns often represent a very similar sound in U.S. English, as in her, bird, and turn. Because they sound alike, choosing the correct spelling can be tricky.
What are R-controlled vowels?
An R-controlled vowel is a vowel followed by r. The r changes the vowel sound, so the vowel does not usually have its regular short or long sound.
Three common patterns are:
er – her, term, fern
ir – bird, girl, shirt
ur – turn, hurt, curl
In U.S. English, these three patterns often sound very similar.
ER, IR and UR spelling patterns
There is no simple rule that always tells children whether to use er, ir, or ur, but there are some useful clues:
- ER is the most common spelling overall: her, term, fern, person
- IR frequently appears in the middle of words: bird, girl, first, shirt
- UR is less common: turn, fur, hurt, curl
These are helpful spelling patterns rather than rules that work for every word. Regular practice helps children become familiar with which spelling belongs in each word.
Practice R-Controlled Vowels ER, IR and UR
In SpellingCraft’s Listen and Spell exercise, children hear a word and type the correct spelling.
Words with er, ir, and ur are mixed and randomized, giving children practice choosing the correct spelling pattern.
Continue learning
After practicing R-Controlled Vowels ER, IR and UR, continue with
R-Controlled Vowels (ar/or),
or explore more Spelling Rules.
