How to Pronounce R {American Accent} Part 1

Ah, the letter “R.” It’s one of those letters that can be tricky to pronounce in any language, let alone when you’re learning a second language! And the American R sound is especially tricky! 

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here is a guide on how to pronounce R with an American accent. Read on for tips and tricks to help you perfect your pronunciation. 

The Basics of Pronouncing R

To pronounce the American R, the tip of the tongue does not touch anything at all. The back of the tongue does all the work, not the tip of the tongue.

Curl your tongue so the sides of your tongue touch your upper back teeth (your molars) and let the tip of the tongue just kind of hang loose. Think of your tongue being in the shape of the letter “U”, higher on the sides and lowest point in the middle.  Push your lips forward and push the sides of tongue off your back teeth to create the R sound.

To practice, there are a few techniques that can help:

• Start by making the “R” sound by itself without any other letters around it - this will help strengthen your pronunciation muscles!
• Then, try saying words that begin with R like “rain” or “rock” and pay attention to how your tongue moves. Curl, curl, curl you tongue so the sides are higher than the center.
• Finally, don't forget to add a little bit of emphasis when pronouncing words beginning with “R." This will make sure that people can hear and understand what you're saying more easily. 

Learning how to pronounce the letter "R" in English can seem daunting at first, but with some practice and patience, anyone can do it! Remember - practice makes perfect! So, take some time each day to focus on mastering this tricky letter and soon enough it'll become second nature for you!

With these tips under your belt, all that's left for you to do now is get out there and start practicing! Good luck!

This is Part 1 of this lesson. To watch Part 2, click here.