Pronunciation
The trill in perro
rr, and r at the start of a word, is a trill. The tongue tip stays loose against the ridge and the air makes it vibrate more than once.
rr
Typical mistake
English has no trill. Learners either skip it or push a growl from the throat. perro then never separates from pero.
How to make the sound
- 01Start from the tap in “butter”.
- 02Add more air so the tip bounces again.
- 03Keep the jaw still. Tension in the tongue stops the vibration.
- 04Practice perro, carro, rosa, with the trill on the first sound of rosa.
Practice words
perro
dog — trill
carro
car
rosa
rose — trill at the start
arroz
rice
Questions
- Does every r trill?
- No. A single r between vowels taps once. rr, and r at the start of a word, trills.
- What if I can only tap once?
- Stay on the tap until it is reliable, then add air. A forced growl is not a trill.
Check rr out loud
Record a phrase with this sound — the teacher will tell you if you landed it.