The “r” can be a confusing sound because it is pronounced differently in different languages. For example, Spanish speakers roll the “r” with the tip of their tongue and French speakers roll the “r’ with the back of their tongue. The “r’ in English has no rolling.
This exercise focuses on the Canadian English pronunciation of the “r” sound. Learn how to make the sound, listen to the difference between a Canadian “r’ and common substitutions and then practice saying the “r” in words and sentences. Finally, familiarize yourself with common spelling variations for “r”.
For more practice, listen to the audio file and follow along with the print exercises.
How to make the “r” sound:
Raise the middle of the tongue toward the palate. Sides of the tongue are pressed against the upper teeth. The tongue tip is either pointed downward or raised to almost contact the alveolar ridge. Vibrate the vocal cords as the breath stream flows over the top of the tongue.
Structures: sides of tongue and upper teeth; middle of tongue toward palate
Air Flow: continuous
Voicing: voiced
Listening Exercises:
*not recorded
 |
 |
| red | wed |
| ring | wing |
| rich | witch |
| *rain | Wayne |
| *rig | wig |
|
 |
| Rick | lick |
| root | loot |
| race | lace |
| *rice | lice |
| *red | led |
| Canadian |
Rolled |
| red | red |
| race | race |
| reach | reach |
| *write | *write |
| *road | *road |
| *Rolled r words are spelled the same, with the “rolled” pronunciation | |
Speaking Exercises:
- reach
- rain
- radish
- wreck
- rhinoceros
- ruin
- run
- race
- report
- wrench
- red
- wrist
- *ravioli
- *retrieve
- *road
- *Red Deer
- *rose
- *rent
- *retire
- *remove
- *retroactive
Using “r” in sentences:
- Randy wrote an excellent report on the environment.
- Could you retrieve the records from the basement?
- There was a major car wreck on Range Road.
- The rhinoceros roamed beside the river.
- Have you seen my red wrench anywhere?
- *Roberto makes the best ravioli.
- *Can you reach my raincoat?
- *Rhonda reached the finish line first and won the race.
- *Does it ever rain in Red Deer?
- *My roommate grows radishes in the garden.
Spelling Variations:
In Canada we have two spelling variations for the ‘r’ sound
- r as in road
- wr as in write