non-rhotic

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Word parts

non- + rhotic

Adjective

Positive non-rhotic

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. If a dialect (form of a language) or accent is non-rhotic, it only pronounces the rhotic sound for the letter R when it is before a vowel (more precisely, the rhotic sound is pronounced if "r" or "rh" is immediately followed by a vowel – which also means it is always pronounced at the start of a word). Most British accents in England and Wales are non-rhotic (with the notable exception of West-Country accents), as are all Australian accents and most accents of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine in New England, United States.

Antonym

• rhotic