Not a Speech Disorder
Saying "warsh" instead of "wash" is called intrusive R — a regional dialect feature. Unlike rhotacism (where R sounds are omitted or substituted), this involves adding an R where standard English doesn't have one.
- Rhotacism: "rabbit" → "wabbit" (R removed)
- Intrusive R: "wash" → "warsh" (R added)
Common Examples
- "wash" → "warsh"
- "Washington" → "Warshington"
- "squash" → "squarsh"
- "gosh" → "gorsh"
This is a learned pattern passed down through communities — not a motor coordination issue.
Where Do People Say "Warsh"?
Midland Dialect Region: Missouri, Kansas, Southern Indiana/Illinois, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania
Appalachian Region: West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky/Tennessee, Southwest Virginia
Other areas: Parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Upper South, rural Midwest
More common among older speakers and rural communities.
Warsh vs. Rhotacism
| Feature | Intrusive R ("Warsh") | Rhotacism |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | R is added | R is omitted/substituted |
| Cause | Learned regional dialect | Speech development |
| Is it a disorder? | No | Yes |
| Can produce standard R? | Yes | Difficulty |
Unlike someone who says W instead of R, someone who says "warsh" can produce R sounds perfectly.
Should You "Fix" It?
There's nothing linguistically "wrong" with "warsh" — all dialects are valid.
Reasons to change: Professional situations, personal preference, moving regions.
Reasons to keep it: Part of identity/heritage, dialect diversity enriches language.
Unlike rhotacism, "warsh" rarely causes misunderstanding — it's purely about dialect variation.
Struggling with R Sounds?
If you have difficulty producing R sounds (not just adding them), we can help.
Next Steps
- What is Rhotacism? — The actual speech disorder
- Why Do I Pronounce R as W? — W-substitution explained
- What Causes Rhotacism? — The 7 main factors
- Rhotacism Examples — Practice words