Spelling
- "r" - far, run
- "wr" - wrap, write
- "rr" - borrow, marry
- "re" - more, stare
LISTEN
The consonant /r/ may be at the beginning of a word, in the middle of a word, or at the end of a word. If /r/ is at the end of a word, it has a slightly different sound. To pronounce /r/ at the end of a word (especially after a tense vowel like /iy/ or /ey/), use the vowel /ər/ ("-er") and drop the pitch of your voice in the middle of the vowel. Enunciate the final consonant clearly.
| pitch_drop_-r-.mp3 |
Try to hear the /ər/ and pitch drop in these examples.
- near (NEE-er)
- stair (STAY-er)
- fire (FI-er)
- lure (LU-er)
The consonant /r/ can be in these consonant clusters:
-
Beginning of a Syllable
| r_initial_clusters.mp3 |
/kr/ (sometimes spelled “cr”)
- kraken, crime
/br/ - break
/dr/ - dream
/tr/ - try
/gr/ - grow
/pr/ - prize
/spr/ - spring
/skr/ (“scr”) - script
/str/ - strong
/fr/ - friend
/θr/ (“thr”) - three
/ʃr/ (“shr”) - shrink
/br/ - break
/dr/ - dream
/tr/ - try
/gr/ - grow
/pr/ - prize
/spr/ - spring
/skr/ (“scr”) - script
/str/ - strong
/fr/ - friend
/θr/ (“thr”) - three
/ʃr/ (“shr”) - shrink
-
End of a Syllable
| r_final_clusters.mp3 |
/rd/ ("rd" / "red" / "rred") - hard,
cared, scarred
/rdz/ ("rds") - cords
/rt/ ("rt") - sort
/rts/ ("rts") - parts
/rb/ ("rb") - barb
/rbz/ ("rbs") - herbs
/rbd/ ("rbed") - garbed
/rp/ ("rp") - sharp
/rps/ ("rps") - warps
/rpd/ ("rped") - burped
/rk/ ("rk," “rc”) - park, arc
/rks/ ("rks" / "rcs") - forks, arcs
/rkt/ (“rked”) - barked
/rtʃ/ (“rch”) - arch
/rtʃd/ (“rched”) - scorched
/rdʒ/ ("rge”) - large
/rdz/ ("rds") - cords
/rt/ ("rt") - sort
/rts/ ("rts") - parts
/rb/ ("rb") - barb
/rbz/ ("rbs") - herbs
/rbd/ ("rbed") - garbed
/rp/ ("rp") - sharp
/rps/ ("rps") - warps
/rpd/ ("rped") - burped
/rk/ ("rk," “rc”) - park, arc
/rks/ ("rks" / "rcs") - forks, arcs
/rkt/ (“rked”) - barked
/rtʃ/ (“rch”) - arch
/rtʃd/ (“rched”) - scorched
/rdʒ/ ("rge”) - large
/rdʒd/ ("rged”) -
barged
/rʃ/ (“rsh”) - harsh
/rz/ ("rz")- beers
/rs/ ("rse" / "rce") - parse, force
/rst/ ("rst" / “rsed” / “rced”) - worst, parsed, forced
/rf/ ("rf")- scarf
/rfs/ ("rfs") - wharfs
/rft/ ("rfed") - barfed
/rv/ ("rve") - carve
/rvz/ ("rves") - scarves
/rvd/ ("rved") - carved
/rl/ ("rl") - snarl
/rlz/ ("rls") - snarls
/rld/ ("rld") - world
/rm/ ("rm") - warm
/rmz/ (“rms”) - charms
/rmd/ (“rmed”) - harmed
/rn/ ("rn") - barn
/rnz/ ("rns")- horns
/rnd/ (“rned”) - warned
/rʃ/ (“rsh”) - harsh
/rz/ ("rz")- beers
/rs/ ("rse" / "rce") - parse, force
/rst/ ("rst" / “rsed” / “rced”) - worst, parsed, forced
/rf/ ("rf")- scarf
/rfs/ ("rfs") - wharfs
/rft/ ("rfed") - barfed
/rv/ ("rve") - carve
/rvz/ ("rves") - scarves
/rvd/ ("rved") - carved
/rl/ ("rl") - snarl
/rlz/ ("rls") - snarls
/rld/ ("rld") - world
/rm/ ("rm") - warm
/rmz/ (“rms”) - charms
/rmd/ (“rmed”) - harmed
/rn/ ("rn") - barn
/rnz/ ("rns")- horns
/rnd/ (“rned”) - warned
Grammar Tip:
The sound /r/ is used in the suffixes "-ory" and "-ary." These suffixes are used in some adjectives.
The suffix "-ry" also appears in some nouns. When "-ry" is added to a noun or verb, it can
mean "place of ____," "activity of ____", "practice of ____," or "collection
of ____".
| r_grammar2.mp3 |
- treasure --> treasury
- bake --> bakery
- rival --> rivalry
- dentist --> dentistry
- machine --> machinery
- rocket --> rocketry
COMPARE
Compare /r/ and /l/:
| compare_r-l_1.mp3 |
/r/.../l/.../r/.../l/.../r/.../l/...
The consonants /r/ and /l/ are both voiced, liquid consonants. However, /r/ is pronounced with the tongue near (but not touching) the roof of your mouth, while /l/ is pronounced with the the tip of the tongue touching the gum ridge.
The consonants /r/ and /l/ are both voiced, liquid consonants. However, /r/ is pronounced with the tongue near (but not touching) the roof of your mouth, while /l/ is pronounced with the the tip of the tongue touching the gum ridge.
You can hear the difference between /r/ and /l/ in these words.
| compare_r-l_words.mp3 |
1. A. rake, B. lake
2. A. grass, B. glass
3. A. mayor, B. mail
4. A. fires, B. files
5. A. barked, B. balked
6. A. steering, B. steeling
2. A. grass, B. glass
3. A. mayor, B. mail
4. A. fires, B. files
5. A. barked, B. balked
6. A. steering, B. steeling
PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
| words_-r-.mp3 |
|
1. right
2. raise 3. reason 4. really 5. arrow 6. pouring 7. fire 8. world 9. cream 10. praise |
11. strange
12. broken 13. address 14. parking 15. support 16. admire 17. scared 18. abbreviate 19. recreation 20. rewarded |
Now, practice /r/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
| sentences_-r-.mp3 |
1. car - parking -
garage
I left my car in the parking garage
2. forecast - predict - rain - tomorrow
The weather forecast is predicting rain tomorrow.
3. afford - rent - borrow
If you can't afford to buy textbooks, you can rent or borrow them.
4. dark - road - drive - carefully
If you're on a dark road, you should drive carefully.
5. fourth - engineering - course
This is the fourth week of my engineering course.
6. brother - warned - strangers
My brother warned me not to talk to strangers.
I left my car in the parking garage
2. forecast - predict - rain - tomorrow
The weather forecast is predicting rain tomorrow.
3. afford - rent - borrow
If you can't afford to buy textbooks, you can rent or borrow them.
4. dark - road - drive - carefully
If you're on a dark road, you should drive carefully.
5. fourth - engineering - course
This is the fourth week of my engineering course.
6. brother - warned - strangers
My brother warned me not to talk to strangers.
To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:
