Hey, how's it going? I'm Mirari from Mosalingua.
In this video, you'll learn how to pronounce
a very important Spanish sound: the rolled "r."
I'm sure that for many of you
the Spanish "r" is a real nightmare.
But I have good news:
once you learn how to pronounce it correctly, you'll sound like a real native speaker!
And by the end of this video,
you'll know how.
Let's get started, shall we?
Before we begin, I want to remind you that we have
tons of other interesting videos about how to learn Spanish on our channel.
If you're watching this on Facebook, Instagram, or another social network,
be sure to like or follow us.
First of all, keep in mind that Spanish
has two different /r/ sounds: the single /r/ and the double /r/.
The single /r/ is just that, just one "r"
in between two vowels, like in the word "caro"
or after the consonants "b," "d," or "g" like in the words "abril", "ladrón" and "gracias."
The double /r/ on the other hand
is two "r's" in a row, in between two vowels, like in the word "carro."
The sound can also be represented by a single "r" if it's at the beginning of a word, as in "rico,"
at the beginning of certain syllables, as in "Enrique,"
or if it comes before the consonants: “p,” “t,” or “c”
as in "pronto," "tres," and "crema."
Usually, the single /r/ sound is easier to pronounce, because
it's a lot like the /r/ sound that exists in other languages.
There are a few steps to take
to pronounce it correctly.
The first step is to focus on the sound.
Listen to it several times so that you know
where your tongue needs to go.
When you listen to a sound over and over and repeat it,
you learn exactly which parts of your mouth
you need to move to reproduce it correctly.
Plus, it's a really good way
to learn new vocabulary. The key is to listen to a sound as much as possible.
So, if you want, watch this video a few times
to understand how to pronounce the different "r" sounds in the words I use.
You can also check out the links we put in the video description
if you want more resources to help you practice.
To pronounce the /r/ sound like a real Spanish speaker
it's really important to know how your tongue should move.
Your tongue should be close to the roof of your mouth,
but not too close.
Air should be able to easily move through the space between them.
Watch me: caro, broma, gramo...
If your tongue is too close to the roof of your mouth, the sound will get stuck,
and if it's too far away, it won't be able to create the right vibrations.
The trick here is to let the tip of your tongue lightly touch the space
right behind your top front teeth.
Of course, it will take a lot of practice
to get it right.
Repeat the sound as much as you can.
Another tip is to look in the mirror while you say it to see if your tongue
is in the right position. Got it?
Third tip: the first thing to do is
relax your tongue. If your tongue is too tense
you won't be able to create any vibrations, and if it's not relaxed, your "r" will
sound more like a "d" than an "r."
But don't worry!
I know you'll get it!
A trick is to do exercises to
relax your tongue. Your tongue is in a similar position for the "d" and "t" sounds.
So, use these consonants to start practicing a bit.
If you're able to say “tr” and “dr,” you've already made a lot of progress.
Say “tres,” but very slowly,
drawing out the sound as long as you can.
Good, now the next exercise will help you get the air flowing in your mouth.
Air needs to flow between the roof of your mouth and your tongue
if you want to create vibrations.
The amount of air you need is roughly the same as when you
pronounce the consonants "d" and "t."
As usual, the final step is to practice,
practice, practice.
If you practice every day,
you'll get better, little by little.
Another good tip is to choose
a few key words and say them every day. I recommend starting with
words like: "pero," "perro," "gracias," "tres," and "rico."
Of course, once you know how to correctly pronounce the /r/ sound,
you can keep practicing with other words. Well, that's all for today.
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