rhotacism

Meanings

1. An exaggerated use of the sound of the letter R.
2. A linguistic phenomenon in which a consonant changes into an R; rhotacization.
3. The inability to pronounce the letter R; derhotacization.

Etymology

From New Latin rhōtacismus, from Ancient Greek *ῥωτακισμός (*rhōtakismós), from ῥωτακίζω (rhōtakízō, “to incorrectly use rho”), from ῥῶ (rhô, “rho (the Greek equivalent of r)”) in analogy with ἰωτακίζω (iōtakízō, “to incorrectly use iota”); itself from ἰῶτα (iôta) in analogy with ἀττικίζω (attikízō, “talk like an Athenian”). By surface analysis, rho + -tacism.