How Do You Pronounce The R Word? A Guide To Saying It Respectfully

Let’s dive into the R sound, which is sometimes tricky for non-native English speakers. It’s actually quite simple if you focus on the tongue placement.

Your tongue needs to be in the middle of your mouth, but don’t let it touch anything! That’s the key. This placement creates a forward and focused sound. You’ll also want to bring your lips inward, pushing them away from your face a bit. This lip position is a little more relaxed when the R comes at the end of a syllable.

Think about the R sound like the “ah” sound in “father.” It’s similar but with that added tongue placement and lip position. It takes a little practice, but you’ll get the hang of it!

Imagine a little “dome” forming at the back of your mouth, created by your tongue. This creates a space for the air to travel through. Now, when you make the sound, it’s like a little puff of air coming out. It’s important to keep that little “dome” formed with your tongue throughout the sound, as this helps to create the correct vibration and sound.

Another way to think about it is like you’re trying to say “ah” but you’re holding the air back a little bit, with your tongue creating that “dome.” This creates the distinctive “r” sound.

Try it out! Practice saying “ah” with your tongue positioned in the middle, but don’t let it touch anything. Then, add a little “puff” of air coming out, and you’ll have mastered the R sound!