Definition

A language-related change where a consonant turns into an R sound, or a situation where someone has difficulty pronouncing the R sound.

Example

The child was undergoing speech therapy to address his rhotacism, which made it hard for him to say certain words.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of rhotacism?

Yeah, I think it's when a sound changes to an R sound, right?

Exactly! I read that it can even affect how some people pronounce their words.

That makes sense, especially if they have trouble with the letter R.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Rhotacism is formed from "rhotas" (from Greek ῥόθος, meaning the letter 'R') and the suffix "-ism" (meaning a practice or condition). The term refers to the linguistic phenomenon where a sound, typically a consonant, is changed to an 'R' sound.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for the letter 'R' — 'rhotas' — to remember that rhotacism involves changing sounds to 'R'.

Visually Confused Words