Download Article
Download Article
Many people cannot pronounce the "r" sound in the English language. It is a common issue with children learning to speak, and also affects many adults; in fact, many speech therapists say that the "r" sound is the hardest to correct. [1] X Research source Since the "r" sound is so important in the English language, learning to say it correctly can help prevent other speech problems.
Steps
-
Purse your lips. Because the lips have to make a rounded, small "o" shape to properly execute the "r,"
- This is a very important step in reciting the "r" sound, which cannot be executed unless the mouth is in an oval shape.
- To assist another person in learning the "r" sound, encourage them to look at you as you form it correctly by forming a small "o" with your lips. [2] X Research source
-
Constrict the pharynx. This is a motion that most people do without realizing it, so it can be a bit of a learning curve to recognize where these muscles are and how to move them.
- To practice constricting the pharynx, gargle water while saying "ah." [3] X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source Your pharynx will constrict in the same place that it must constrict to say the "r" sound.
- Another way to learn how to constrict the pharynx involves gently biting both edges of the tongue with the molars and pressing up with the tongue onto the top molars. Say "eee" while doing this motion with the tongue; this is what it feels like when the pharynx constricts.
Advertisement -
Practice "car" daily. Words that end in "r" are easier to produce than words that begin with it or contain it in the middle, so start with a word like "car."
- Practice it every day, even if you are not getting the sound correctly. If you have a friend or partner who can help you daily, ask them to say the word to you and you say it back to them as you watch in a mirror, so you can watch their sound production and compare it to your own.
Advertisement
-
Understand that the "r" is not a simple sound to learn. It is considered one of the hardest English language sounds to articulate, and it is typically the last sound that native English speakers master as children.
- Most toddlers begin saying the sound like a "w" instead of an "r," as in "wabbit." This can continue for several years and usually self-corrects without intervention.
- The proper pronunciation of the "r" sound before the age of 6 or 7 is typically not a concern. If it's not accompanied by other speech problems or by social anxiety, its often best to let it resolve on its own. [4] X Research source
- Age and intelligibility can be a clue as to whether or not a child needs intervention for language skills. If a 3-year-old is not intelligible to strangers at all, that can signal a problem; however, a kindergartner who is intelligible but still struggles with the "r" is probably in the range of normal. By second grade, a child should be able to pronounce the "r" sound. [5] X Research source
-
Know the parts of the mouth involved in producing the "r" sound. There are three major parts of the mouth that have to constrict and work together to properly produce an "r" sound, and these include:
- The lips: To understand how the lips function when saying the "r" sound, ask someone who can pronounce it properly to say the word "rabbit." What does their mouth do when they say the "r" part of the word? If they're forming it correctly, their mouth makes a small circle. The rounded lips are the first component of a proper "r" pronunciation. [6] X Research source
- The tongue: If you are unable to make the "r" sound, you may have no idea what a tongue should be doing while properly pronouncing the "r." In fact, the tongue makes a small mound or hump in the mouth, and sound waves travel over that mound to properly execute the sound. [7] X Research source
- The pharynx: The pharynx is another word for the throat, and the part of the pharynx that is associated with the "r" sound is at the very top of the throat. In order to make the "r" sound, the pharynx has to constrict or tighten.
-
See a speech-language pathologist. [8] X Research source If you or your child struggles to produce the "r" and the issue does not seem to be resolving itself, intervention from a SLP can help to avoid further speech problems as well as issues with bullying, self-confidence, and even spelling problems that can result from not being able to say the "r" sound properly. [9] X Research source
- An SLP will conduct a thorough evaluation of all elements of you or your child's speech, including your muscle control, articulation, eating habits, and receptive skills (that is, how well you or your child understands spoken language).
Advertisement
-
Strengthen your pharynx. If you are struggling to constrict your pharynx to properly say the "r" sound, you may have a weak pharynx that needs exercise!
- One way to strengthen it is to gargle water every day. Try to articulate the sound "ah" while you gargle the water in the back of your throat; this is a similar motion to what you need to do when you are saying the "r" sound. [10] X Research source
-
Differentiate sounds by watching your face. If you are struggling to differentiate between the "r" and similar sounds ("l" is a frequent culprit), you need to enlist a buddy who can model the sounds while you watch in a mirror.
- Watch your friend's face as he properly executes the different sounds, then watch your own face as you attempt to execute the sounds. Look to see how your lips' position moves with each sound.
-
Consider a speech positioning device. Since the tongue is behind the barrier of the teeth and can't be seen while trying to properly position it, some severe cases that involve incorrect positioning of the tongue may require the use of a tactile cue to help a person learn how the tongue must move to produce the correct sound.
- A speech-language pathologist can help you to determine if a positioning device is right for you. Examples of these positioning devices are available from the Speech Buddy manufacturer at www.speechbuddy.com.
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionHow can I increase my speed of speaking?Community AnswerPractice for 10 minutes every day. Be more confident when you speak. Use the language at home and with your friends.
-
QuestionMy R's sound like W's, and people often mishear me. Any help?Community AnswerTypically, the "W" sound does not involve your tongue. When next pronouncing the "R" sound, use your tongue by positioning it on the roof of your mouth.
-
QuestionWhen I pronounce my Rs, it sounds like "ah." What should I do?Community AnswerTry saying "er" and adding "uh" at the end. It will sound weird when said slowly, but when said faster it will sound normal. Try saying "red," "read," and "star."
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
- These techniques can also help native English speakers when trying to learn the difficult "rolled r" of Czech or the infamous "rz" sound in Polish. Even if English doesn't have these letters (and some people can't hear the difference), English speakers can learn to mimic the mouth motions.Thanks
- Consider using an app that can help you by providing the correct pronunciations of words that you can then try to approximate. "Sounds of Speech" is a very highly rated app that was created by researchers at the University of Iowa and is available in the Apple download store.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Stress and anxiety can truly contribute to speech impediments. Relax and the sound will flow more smoothly.Thanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://the-speech-studio.medium.com/whats-so-hard-about-the-r-sound-6a1ac22a1b66
- ↑ http://mommyspeechtherapy.com/?p=2113
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/swallowing-exercises-closure-of-the-larynx-exercises
- ↑ https://the-speech-studio.medium.com/whats-so-hard-about-the-r-sound-6a1ac22a1b66
- ↑ https://the-speech-studio.medium.com/whats-so-hard-about-the-r-sound-6a1ac22a1b66
- ↑ https://the-speech-studio.medium.com/whats-so-hard-about-the-r-sound-6a1ac22a1b66
- ↑ http://mommyspeechtherapy.com/?p=2113
- ↑ https://greatspeech.com/rip-rug-run-speech-therapy-exercises-for-remediation-of-the-r-sound/
- ↑ http://mommyspeechtherapy.com/?p=1116
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To pronounce “r” in English, start by pursing your lips so that they form a small “o” shape. Then, allow your tongue to make a small mound in your mouth so the sound can travel over it. Once your lips and tongue are in place, tighten the muscles at the very top of you throat as you practice words that end in “r,” such as “car” or “for.” Additionally, try practicing in front of a mirror to help you adjust your lips and tongue. If you’re still having trouble, strengthen your throat muscles by gargling water every day, which will help you articulate the “r” sound. For more tips, including how to practice tightening your throat muscles to make an “r” sound, read on!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 424,530 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I was looking for a way to pronounce R properly in English and also exercises that help developing the muscles involved in R pronunciation. This article helped me figure it out what I need to do in order to accomplish a more accurate R." ..." more
Advertisement
"I was looking for a way to pronounce R properly in English and also exercises that help developing the muscles involved in R pronunciation. This article helped me figure it out what I need to do in order to accomplish a more accurate R."
..."
more
"This article helped me a lot, because I was also undergoing such problems. This helped me to overcome it. Thank you, wikiHow."
..."
more
"I've not completely stopped saying W instead of R, but I've been improving! This article was very useful, thanks!"
..."
more
"The steps are direct, easy and simple to understand."
"I realized what I was doing all my life was wrong."
