22 How to Make English /r/ like in “red” Watch Video Lesson
For the English /r/ sound (not the name of the letter “r”), a few options are possible: 1
2
3
(1) the tongue tip points towards the gum ridge (2) the tongue tip curls back behind the gum ridge (3) the front of the tongue moves backwards and upwards
You can choose whichever /r/ position is easiest for you. Remember it may take you some time to feel how your tongue is moving. You can look in the mirror to help you, or go back to Lesson 2 to repeat the articulation exercises.
For all of the /r/ versions, the sides of the tongue are touching the sides of the upper teeth. The top of the tongue is not touching any part of the roof of the mouth. The lips can be slightly rounded.
It may help to think of the English /r/ like a dark vowel sound (darker than a /iː/ or /ɛ/ vowel, for instance). The English /r/ can be pronounced in the same way as the vowel at the end of the word better pronounced in an American accent.
It may also sound similar to the noise a dog makes when growling.
If you are confusing /r/ with another sound, then go to one of the links below:
If you can’t make a difference between red and led, then click here to go to the /l-r/ Comparison worksheet If you can’t make a difference between red and wed, then click here to go to the /r-w/ Comparison worksheet If you can’t make a difference between rain and vain, then click here to go to the /v-r/ Comparison worksheet
At this point you might be asking yourself: How do I know if I’m doing it right? Go to the next page to find out
