How do you roll your Rs?

Question

I've tried everything and I practice all the time, but I still can't roll my Rs! Someone please help??

a search in the question box will often turn up previous threads on the same subject, welcome to the forum :) - Kiwi-Girl, Nov 1, 2010

Answer 1

Welcome to the forum!

Probably the most important thing to do at the moment is to relax about it... A tense tongue isn't going to roll around!

When you were little did you ever make a machine-gun sound? Most little kids go through a phase of making that type of sound (although they don't necessarily do it in conjunction with a machine gun; I just referenced that to try to explain what sound I am referring to.) Did you ever make the sound of a phone ringing? Try to think back when you were little and you were running around putting all sorts of sound effects into your play. I am positive that you rolled your r's quite well.

Relax...remember your sounds from playing...try to duplicate those sounds in the privacy of your own home - I am confident that you will be rrrrolling sooner than you ever hoped.

A PS of encouragement: I have never known a native Spanish speaker to make any nasty value judgment toward a learner who was trying as hard as he/she could. Keep after it! You'll have it soon!

Or the purring of a cat... or the bird calls, lol. Just thought I'd add those :) Hope you don't mind - Goldie_Miel, Nov 1, 2010

Answer 2

Go to Copacabana beach or Ipanema and watch the girls walk by. :

Maybe that won't work, but it'd be nice, though. (P.D. It is Ipanema) - lazarus1907, Nov 1, 2010

Answer 3

Let's try again:

1) Fist of all, you don't have to move your tongue yourself. The air coming out will do that for you.

2) Your tongue must initially be able to block ALL the air coming out of your mouth by widening its shape so the air does not escape through the sides. Its sides must be touching your upper gums.

3) If your tongue is too slack, the air will go out like a puff... or even without a noise. If your tongue is too tense, the air will never go out and you'll gasp for air. Try something in between.

4) The air must not come out through the sides, where the tongue is should be kept tense, but through the front, where the tension is less. When the air comes out, it will push the tongue 2 or 3 times, giving you the sound.

Answer 4

I used to have a long, exact, step-by-step description of how to hold your teeth, tongue and lips, and how to breathe, but since being here I've heard the best suggestion: Just purr like a cat. That's pretty close. It'll get you started, anyway. Talk like Catwoman.

Answer 5

Here's one suggestion, or two: Rolling your rrr's