How do I learn to roll my "R"s? Is it absolutely necessary????
I can't seem to roll my R's but would love to.
10 Answers
Yes, it's absolutely necessary. If you don't, you'll sound to Spanish speakers like those Indian tech support guys sound to us.
But it's easy. Remember the machine gun sound we made as kids with our tongue? Do that. Done.
in your free time practice RR youll get fusturated but soon you get it and if you want to learn give it your all till you get it done Good Luck I hope You get
Also remember it is a smiling language... If your mouth is in somewhat of a smile position it is easier to roll your r's. It was hard for me too at first, but a lot of practice helped a lot. Also using Rosetta Stone helped me a lot with that because you have to pronounce it right before you can go on.. Good luck!!! 
If you search the forum you'll find this question a lot. I used to tell people to imitate a motorboat, but someone here suggested purring like a cat. I think the latter is the best.
The actual technique is to lightly touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth a little bit behind your front teeth and lightly blow out. Your tongue should flutter. That's the sound.
If you don't learn how to do it you'll still be understood for the most part, but you'll have a horrendous accent. But don't get all upset about it. Some people never do. For me it was easy. For many people it's very difficult. Either way it takes a lot of practice.
If you search the forum you'll find this question a lot.
Thanks Kevin
Welcome to the forum, doodle, please do a search , this will help you to get more answers to your quest.
Please don't forget to vote for newbies, their rep.status is so hidden now that it seems that nobody is voting, thanks
One way that might help you is this
For the word "perro" if you cannot roll the Rs then put in a short pause and say it like this
pear - ra
I always copy-n-paste this answer for this question....click on the links as they take you to several good explanations.
Stuff about Rolling RRs
Lazarus explains how to make the RR sound.
For some reason, webdunce explains RR again.
Most important thing, it is all about the tongue's tip resisting air flow and a balancing of those two opposing forces resulting in the vibration of the tongue's tip. There is no way a person can move their tongue fast enough by way of muscular up-and-down movements. I feel most people who struggle with this sound are trying to move their tongue fast enough some kind of way, which not even the most gifted Spaniard can do.
There is at least one tongue condition called "tongue tied" (official term: ankyloglossia) that can prevent you from making this sound.
It is not 100% necessary. Some native spanish speakers never acquire the ability to roll their RRs. But, keep in mind, this likely sounds to them like Elmer Fudd sounds to us (Elmer Fudd is a cartoon character who can't say his Rs properly...he pronounces rabbit as wabbit).
Cheers.
Is it necessary? 100% necessary. Without the "roll" you can get into difficulty by changing the meaning of what you want to say. One word which comes to mind is the verb "to load" and the noun "load". Say the Spanish translation of these two words without rolling the "r" and you will get some strange looks.
¡Hola! I’ve studied Spanish for roughly eight years now and I remember having the same frustrations that you’re having. To answer your first question, yes it is necessary to learn how to roll the r. The best way to do it is to put the tip of your tongue just behind your front teeth and make an “r” sound again and again. Eventually you’ll get the hang of it. If that doesn’t work, try to pronounce the work “arroz”. Espero que te ayudé y te deseo mucho suerte con el español.
I disagree that it is "absolutely necessary"...
I have meet native speakers that could not (or just did not) roll the RR. If you can do it great, and if you can't... no big deal.
I cannot do it either, but I still try to make it sound "natural". When I practice with my language exchange friends, they always tell me not to stress out about it.
