Decoding exercises: "irV", "yrV", "irrV" and "yrrV"

The sequence /ɪrV/, where V is any vowel, can be spelled "ir", "yr", "irr" and "yrr".

The following table shows the sounds of these four combinations in a stressed syllable. Unstressed sounds (/ə/ and /ɪ/) are shown in the examples.

Common words

 * "ir"
 * "i" as /ɪ/: spirit
 * "i" as /aɪ/: virus
 * "i" as /aɪə/: iron
 * "i" as /ɜː/ *stirring


 * "irr"
 * "i" as /ɪ/: mirror

Less common words

 * "ir" or "yr"
 * "i" as /ɪ/: conspiracy, delirious, miracle, mirage, satiric, spirit
 * "y" as /ɪ/: lyric, pyramid, syringe, tyranny
 * "i" as /aɪ/: irate, Irish, ironic, irony, pirate, siren
 * "y" as /aɪ/: gyrate, thyroid, tyrant
 * "i" as /aɪə/: admirer, desirable, firearm
 * "i" as /ə/: admirable, admiral, giraffe
 * ening in "ation": admiration, aspiration, expiration, inspiration, perspiration


 * enquiry/inquiry
 * spelling: normally enquiry, inquiry
 * pronunciation: /ɪnˈkwaɪəri/   /ˈɪnkwəri/


 * "irr"
 * "i" as /ɪ/: irrational, irrefutable, irregular, irrelevant, irreparable, irresistible, irrigation, irritation

Proper nouns

 * "i" or "y" as /ɪ/: Iran, Iraq, Miranda, Syria
 * "i" or "y" as /aɪ/: Byron

Variant pronunciations

 * /ɪr/ or /aɪr/: direct - direction - director - directory
 * environment /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/, /ɪnˈvaɪərnmənt/; also /nˈvaɪrənmənt/, /nˈvaɪərnmənt/
 * /ɪr/, /ɜːr/: squirrel
 * /ɪr/, /ɜːr/: syrup