How do I know when to use R or RR

Question

I am looking for rules or some sort of help knowing when to use R instead or RR. Toro and loro have one r but perro has two. Is there a way to distinguish when to use R or RR, I've heard RR is used between vowels but Toro and loro don't follow that.

Answer 1

I think you can only distinguish when to use one or the other based on the audible strong/rolling "rr" sound versus the soft "r" sound. As far as I now "rr" only appears between vowels so that would be the only location where a choice would exist, and between vowels "r" will have a soft sound, whereas "rr" will have a strong/rolling sound, so audibly you should be able to distinguish what to write. Probably not the answer you were looking for.

Answer 2

If you know the words--that is have heard them spoken by native speakers you should be able to distinguish the single alveolar flap "r" from the trilled "rr", and imitate those sounds. When reading, you will see some words written with the "rr. " It really makes a phonemic (meaning) difference. They are seen as two SEPARATE sounds. "Caro" mean expensive. "Carro" (trilled "rr") is a word for car (auto.) Pero is the conjunction "but." "Perro" (trilled "rr") means dog.

All initial "R" sounds are the trilled "rr", i.e. Roberto, Rota, Ramón, Rico, etc. All of these get the trilled "rr" sound.

Have a look at the profile and questions asked . - ray76, Nov 5, 2016

Hmmmmm. I see what you mean. - Daniela2041, Nov 5, 2016