10. [r]

/r/ as in RED /rɛd/, MARRY /ˈmæri/, and FAR /fɑr/ 

PRONOUNCING /r/

TONGUE TIP: 

is curled upward but does NOT touch the roof of the mouth.

AIRSTREAM: is continuous.

VOCAL CORDS: are vibrating.

POSSIBLE PRONUNCIATION PROBLEMS FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKER

The sound /r/ as it is pronounced in English does not exist in Spanish. The Spanish r is trilled and is produced by rapidly touching your tongue tip to the upper gum ridge one or more times. You probably use the Spanish r when speaking English. This will not change the meaning of words but will contribute to a "foreign-sounding" accent.

Make sure that your tongue tip NEVER touches your upper gum ridge and you will pronounce English /r/ correctly. REMEMBER to PRACTICE /r/ CAREFULLY; YOUR /r/ will be RIGHT on TARGET!

EXERCISE A

The following words should be pronounced with /r/. Repeat them carefully. Be sure your tongue does NOT touch your upper gum ridge when you say /r/.

/r/ At the Beginning          

/r/ In the Middle

/r/ At the End

red /rɛd/    

run /rʌn/    

row /roʊ/   

read /rid/   

rest /rɛst/   

rich /rɪtʃ/     

rain /reɪn/        

real /ril/      

wrong /rɔŋ/     

write /raɪt/       

very /ˈvɛri/

marry /ˈmæri/

story /ˈstɔri/

berry /ˈbɛri/

sorry /ˈsɑri/ 

carrot /ˈkærət/ 

orange /ˈɔrɪndʒ/ 

around /əˈraʊnd/

tomorrow 

/təˈmɑroʊ/

or /ɔr/ 

are /ɑr/

far /fɑr/

door /dɔr/

near /nɪr/ 

more /mɔr/ 

sure /ʃʊr/ 

their /ðɛr/ 

before /bɪˈfɔr/

appear /əˈpɪr/ 

EXERCISE B

The boldface words in the following phrases and sentences should be pronounced with /r/. Pronounce them carefully.

Where are you?

wɛr  ɑr  yu?

near or far?

nɪr  ɔr fɑr?

Are you sure?

ɑr  yu  ʃʊr?

See you tomorrow.

si  yu  təˈmɑroʊ.

I’m very sorry.

aɪm  ˈvɛri  ˈsɑri.

He’ll be right there.

hil  bi  raɪt  ðɛr.

Roy returns tomorrow morning.

rɔɪ  rɪˈtɚnz  təˈmɑroʊ  ˈmɔrnɪŋ.

The train arrives every hour.

ðə  treɪn  əˈraɪvz  ˈɛvri  aʊɚ.

I already read that short story.

aɪ  ɔlˈrɛdi  rɛd  ðæt  ʃɔrt  ˈstɔri.

Rose is wearing a red dress.

roʊz  ɪz  ˈwɛrɪŋ  ə  rɛd  drɛs.

Robert ran around the corner.

ˈrɑbərt  ræn  əˈraʊnd  ðə  ˈkɔrnɚ.

Rita and Larry are married.

ˈritə  ænd  ˈlɛri  ɑr  ˈmærid.

Remember, never put the cart before the horse!

rɪˈmɛmbɚ, ˈnɛvɚ  pʊt  ðə  kɑrt  bɪˈfɔr  ðə  hɔrs!   

Mark couldn’t start the car.

mɑrk  ˈkʊdənt  stɑrt  ðə  kɑr.

I rented a four–room apartment.

aɪ  ˈrɛntɪd  ə  fɔr–rʊm  əˈpɑrt̚mənt.