The /r/ Sound, Voiced Alveolar Approximant
/r/
/r/ is a voiced alveolar approximant. To make it, the tip or blade of the tongue touches the alveolar ridge, just behind the upper teeth and the articulators come close together, but not close enough to make friction. It is voiced, so the vocal folds vibrate.
Example Words
| Word | UK | US | |
|---|---|---|---|
| red | /red/ | /red/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| sorry | /ˈsɒr.i/ | /ˈsɑːr.i/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| around | /əˈraʊnd/ | /əˈraʊnd/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
Distinctive Features
/r/ is told apart from every other English sound by three distinctive features.
Allophones Of /r/
/r/ has 4 allophones in the app, starting with [r̥], r, l, j or w straight after p, t, k or f in the same syllable onset. The full list, where each occurs and the examples are in Allophones, which opens with any course or with Adroit Plus.
Words With The /r/ Sound
/r/ At The Start Of A Word
- rag
- ram
- ran
- rat
- raw
- ray
- red
- rib
- rid
- rig
- rim
- rob
- rod
- rot
- rub
- rue
- rug
- run
- rut
- race
- rack
- raft
- rage
- raid
- rail
- rain
- rake
- ramp
- rang
- rank
/r/ In The Middle Of A Word
- bra
- cry
- dry
- era
- fry
- pry
- try
- area
- arid
- awry
- brag
- bray
- brew
- brie
- bury
- crab
- crew
- crop
- crow
- drag
- draw
- drew
- drip
- drop
- drug
- drum
- free
- fret
- frog
- fury
Minimal Pairs
Questions Students Ask
Is /r/ voiced or voiceless?
/r/ is voiced.
What is the place of articulation of /r/?
/r/ is alveolar, which means the tip or blade of the tongue touches the alveolar ridge, just behind the upper teeth.
What is the manner of articulation of /r/?
/r/ is a approximant, which means the articulators come close together, but not close enough to make friction.
Which words have the /r/ sound?
For example red, sorry, around.
Related Sounds
The /t/ Sound, Voiceless Alveolar PlosiveThe /d/ Sound, Voiced Alveolar PlosiveThe /s/ Sound, Voiceless Alveolar FricativeThe /z/ Sound, Voiced Alveolar FricativeThe /n/ Sound, Voiced Alveolar NasalThe /l/ Sound, Voiced Alveolar LateralThe /j/ Sound, Voiced Palatal ApproximantThe /w/ Sound, Voiced Bilabial Approximant