can anyone give me some tips on how to roll my rr's?

Question

I have to tell my teacher this for my spanish class. give it a try oh and i could really use some help on rolling my rr's. Erre con "erre" cigarro, "erre" con "erre" barril. Rápido corren los carros, Cargados de azúcar del ferrocarril. its hard!

It is hard. Wow! - ronm192, Nov 29, 2010

Try, try and try again. Try when you are alone, where you don't feel self-conscious. I'm not too good but they are improving slowly. - galsally, Nov 30, 2010

Answer 1

Study how to produce the "Brrrrrrr" sound that people make with their lips when they are cold. If the lips are too relaxed, the air just comes out without producing any vibration, so a reasonable amount of tension must be required. However, if you apply too much strength, the lips won't move and the air won't be able to push them and get out.

The Spanish RR is based on the same principle, but using the tongue instead of the lips. The tongue should first be tightly widened so that it touches the upper teeth on the sides, and the air is not allowed to get out even if the mouth is open; make sure that you’ve got the air properly trapped. Now the tip of the tongue should be slightly less tense, and this is the tricky part: too slack and the air will come one without vibrations; too tense and the air will not be able to push it to get out of the mouth. Once you have the right tension, the air will push the tip of the tongue 2 or three times per RR as it comes out, although you should be able to maintain the vibration for as long as you have air in your lungs. You don’t have to exhale forcefully. A minimum air stream combined with the proper tension will give you the sound.

Answer 2

This may feel dumb but what my spanish teacher told me is to pretend I am making the noise of a motorcycle and using this tip has helped me. It takes practice!

Answer 3

If you search for this question on this forum you'll find zillions of similar threads. My favorite is to purr like a cat.

Answer 4

The way I try to explain it to students is to put the tip of your tongue behind your front top teeth, while relaxing the rest of your tongue, then give a throaty exhale and the air will vibrate right over, and create that rolling sound you're looking for. I don't know if this will really help you or if it makes much sense, but I hope it does

The rest of the tongue must be tense, not relaxed! - lazarus1907, Nov 30, 2010

Not the way I feel it. The outer edges of the tongue have to be somewhat light or the sound sounds too harsh and doesn't flow into the sounds of the word. - lchsnicolita, Nov 30, 2010

Answer 5

Or go and live in Scotland and wear a Kilt.

Answer 6

Try practicing the activity your teacher gave you every night for 5 minutes or so. Eventually, you will be able to. It simply takes a lot of practice. It took me a year.

Answer 7

I learned by copying "Ruffles have ridges" TV commercials when I was a kid.

Answer 8

To roll your R's pretend you are a pirate at all times. Unless you are already a pirate, then don't pretend. cigArrrrrro