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    Pronunciation · consonant

    The /r/ sound: r as in red

    In short

    /r/ is a postalveolar approximant, the consonant you hear in red, sorry, around. It is voiced: your vocal cords vibrate while you make it. Below: exactly how to position your mouth, audio you can copy, the mistakes learners actually make, and drills to fix them.

    How to pronounce /r/

    1. 1Curl your tongue tip up and slightly back; it must NOT touch anything.
    2. 2Round your lips slightly and voice the sound.
    3. 3In British English, only say r before a vowel: 'red' yes, 'car' no.

    /r/ in words, with audio

    Listen, then copy. The slow (turtle) version exaggerates the mouth movement.

    • redred · sound is initial
    • sorryˈsɒri · sound is medial
    • aroundəˈraʊnd · sound is medial
    • problemˈprɒbləm · sound is medial
    • reallyˈrɪəli · sound is initial

    The mistake almost everyone makes

    Trilling or tapping it (Spanish, Arabic, Russian habit), confusing it with /l/, or pronouncing written r everywhere in a British model ('car', 'work' have no r sound in RP).

    Who struggles with this sound:

    • Arabic speakers: trilled r transfers; aim for the smooth English glide (accent colour, not a blocker)
    • Japanese speakers: the same merger from the other side: the English r needs a floating, non-touching tongue
    • Portuguese speakers: initial r becomes /h/: 'red' sounds like 'head'

    Spellings of /r/

    These letter patterns commonly spell /r/: r rr wr. English spelling is unreliable; trust the IPA, not the letters.

    British vs American: American English is rhotic: pronounce every written r ('car' = /kɑr/, 'work' = /wɝk/). Choose one system and stay consistent.

    Don't confuse it with…

    Minimal pairs isolate the exact contrast, the fastest way to train both your ear and your mouth.

    Words that drill /r/

    Each has a full breakdown, audio in both accents and a recording drill. Practising a sound inside a real word transfers better than practising it alone.

    awryuh-RYparadigmPA-ruh-dymeinterestingIN-truh-stingtemperatureTEM-pruh-chuhrestaurantRES-trontcameraKAM-ruhdifferentDIF-runteveryEV-ree

    Browse the whole word bank

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    Frequently asked questions

    How do you pronounce the /r/ sound?
    Curl your tongue tip up and slightly back; it must NOT touch anything. Round your lips slightly and voice the sound. In British English, only say r before a vowel: 'red' yes, 'car' no.
    What is the most common mistake with /r/?
    Trilling or tapping it (Spanish, Arabic, Russian habit), confusing it with /l/, or pronouncing written r everywhere in a British model ('car', 'work' have no r sound in RP).
    Which spellings make the /r/ sound?
    Common spellings include “r”, “rr”, “wr”, as in red /red/, sorry /ˈsɒri/, around /əˈraʊnd/.
    Is /r/ different in American English?
    American English is rhotic: pronounce every written r ('car' = /kɑr/, 'work' = /wɝk/). Choose one system and stay consistent. IELTS accepts both; pick one model and stay consistent.
    Does /r/ matter for IELTS?
    Yes. This is a high-priority sound. Errors here frequently change one word into another, which examiners hear as reduced clarity (the exact Band 6 wording is “mispronunciation … reduces clarity at times”).

    Next step

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