tips to Spanish "r" and "rr" mastery

[louisarogers]

I am finally working on mastering the Spanish "r" and "rr." I am working with a tutor, watching U-tubes, repeating tongue twisters, etc. If anyone has any tips, I would love to hear them. You can email me at louisarogers51@gmail.com.

[datgnat]

Well, I'm watching this thread now, though sadly, I have no tips. Non standard English 'r's have been my biggest failure in years of language and dialect study. I'd give my left (choose your own appendage here) to master them...

[doncoulter]

Don't give up, Louisa. The "rr" took me years. You'll get it if you keep at it.

[Colibri]

Oooh, that can be a tough one, but do not despair. Some of us can call upon the old "Rrruffles have Rrridges" commercial. Remember that one? If that doesn't work, I do have a little trick. I used to coach opera singers, and worked extensively with diction. This isn't an instant fix, but try giving it a bit of practice. The position of the tongue on the rolled R is with the tip firm and pressed to the top of the hard palate a little bit behind the top teeth. Start there. Then, using the usual position you'd use to pronounce the letter "t" in English, alternate between the letter "t" and the letter "d". This is the same formation for the rolled R, but slower. It'll be like you're saying tah-dah! (This is harder to explain in writing than I thought it would be!) As you say tah-dah faster and faster with a little explosion of breath behind it, you can get the tongue to vibrate in a flutter. Voila! (or Tah-dah!) You've got a rolled R. Good luck and let me know if it works for you!

[jesm]

Why we love speaking Spanish, even poorly.
What other language offers you explosions, vibrations, flutters and more!

[peddler665]

At 75 after 30 plus years of Mexican travel I know I will never conquer the "R"s but finally a couple of years ago I suddenly realized I was thinking in Spanish without translating from English. That was huge for this Ole Iowegeen.

[Colibri]

Louisa,

Can you rrrrroll your r's yet?

[peripateo]

My 7-yo had this observation when pronouncing a word with a single “r” like Mérida.”

It’s almost as if you were saying “Médida” with the lightest of ever a “d.” Makes sense, and works!