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Why "here" sounds different in British English
RP uses the /ɪə/ vowel of "near", "beer" and "fear". It starts close to the /ɪ/ of "hit" and moves to a schwa. General American has /hɪr/, the same start with an R at the end. "Here" and "hear" sound the same in both accents.
In current RP the glide is often reduced: many speakers say a long, steady /ɪː/. Both forms are standard. The R returns before a vowel: "here it is" becomes "hee-uh-rit-iz", and "here and there" has the same linking R. Don't round your lips at the end or it can sound like "hew-uh".
How to say "here" like a Brit, step by step
- Breathe out a light h.
- Start on a short i, close to the vowel in "hit".
- Glide smoothly to a relaxed uh with your lips unrounded: HEE-uh.
- Before a vowel, add a linking R: "here-r-it is".
Practise "here" in a sentence
- Come over here and have a look.
- We've lived here for nearly ten years.
- Here's the menu, take your time.
Saying it once correctly is easy. Saying it right in the middle of a fast sentence is the hard part, which is why the sentences above matter more than the single word.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce here in a British accent?
In Received Pronunciation, here is pronounced /hɪə/, roughly "HEE-uh". Say hee-uh: a glide from "i" to "uh", with no R unless a vowel follows.
Is the American pronunciation of here wrong?
No. /hɪr/ is standard in American English. Both are correct, they simply belong to different accents. If you are learning a British accent, aim for /hɪə/.