English Pronunciation: Pronounce the American R Sound. Learn to speak clearly by watching videos and learning all American English pronunciation rules. Learning these rules and practicing every day will give you complete accent training. Learn to reduce your accent and sound like a native speaker.

500 Common English Words: R Sounds

Click on each "video" to repeat after the instructor and learn pronunciation tips.

American speakers pronounce R by making the tongue tense. The sides of the tongue touch the roof of the mouth. The tip of the tongue does not touch. The back of the tongue and the base of the throat are a little tight (not too much--do not stop the sound).

If you are not used to doing R this way, you just need practice. This list will help you build your new R sound. Remember: Americans pronounce all R sounds--whether R is first, middle or last. Do you have difficulty hearing the difference between R and L? Take the online listening test.

Check your understanding. Take our multiple choice test on R sounds.

R as 1^st letter

R in consonant letter combo.

-ere/ear (long E)

-ire (say IYR)

-er/-ir/-ur

Open -ar

Long -ar

-or

Video

Video

Rabbit

Bread

Here

Buyer

After

Are

Air

Before

Rain

Bring

Near

Fire

Answer

Car

Area

Course

Ran

Broom

Year

Hire

Better

Dark

Care

Door

Reach

Brought

Appear

Tire

Bird

Far

Carry

Floor

Read

Brown

Hear

Wire

Center

Farm

Chair

For

Ready

Children

Clear

certain

Hard

Their

Force

Real

Country

Circle

Large

There

Fork

Red

Cream

Color

Mark

Where

Form

Rest

Cross

Correct

Part

Four

Right

Cry

Cover

Star

Horse

Ring

Draw

Direct

Start

River

Dream

Dirt

Morning

Road

Dress

During

North

Rock

Drive

Early

Order

Room

Dry

Earth

Port

Rope

Free

Ever

Short

Round

Friend

Every

Story

Rule

From

Father

War

Rug

Front

First

Warm

Run

Great

Girl

Your

Write

Green

Govern

Test

Ground

Heard

Group

Her

Grow

Interest

Hundred

Learn

Press

Letter

Pretty

Measure

Mother

Problem

Never

Produce

Number

Product

Order

Street

Other

Strong

Over

Three

Paper

Travel

Pattern

Tree

Perhaps

Truck

Person

True

Picture

Try

Power

Umbrella

Remember

Test

River

Serve

Several

Sure

Together

Turn

Under

Water

Were

Wonder

Word

Work

World

Worm

Y + ur sound

figure

pure

cure

Take a listening test on hearing the difference between L and R as a last letter.

Get more practice with R: R Sound Reading Practice. Practice speaking with R and L questions.

More Important R Facts

In standard American speech, all R's are pronounced, whether first, middle or last. You may notice that this is quite different from British English in which R's are usually silent when middle or last. Also, you may notice that Americans with certain southern accents or New York accents will drop some R sounds.

When R is the last letter, it is not pronounced as strongly.

For RL combination, pronounce RUL. For instance, for "girl" say "gir-rul." By placing a small sound there, you give yourself time to pronounce both the R and L clearly. It is also helpful to imagine a strong R or a double R when R is next to L.

For TR combination, as in "tree," pronounce almost as CHR.

Er Exception: very (pronounced with a short E as in "bed")

Read more about making the R Sound.

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500 Common English Words: R Sounds

Check your understanding. Take our multiple choice test on R sounds.

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More Important R Facts

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