R and L

Intermediate · Consonant Sounds

R and L are made in completely different ways, but many learners blur them together. For /l/, the tip of your tongue TOUCHES the ridge behind your top teeth. For English /r/, your tongue does NOT touch anything — it curls back slightly and the lips round a little.

The English /r/ is especially different from the rolled or tapped "r" of many languages. It is smooth, with no vibration of the tongue tip.

How to make them

/l/ = tongue TIP touches the ridge behind top teeth. /r/ = tongue curls back, touches NOTHING, lips slightly round.

Rules & examples

  1. /l/ — tongue tip firmly touches the bump behind your top teeth.

    You can feel the contact; air flows around the sides.

    • light, love, yellow, ball, little
  2. /r/ — tongue pulls back and up but touches nothing; round the lips.

    No rolling, no tapping. Think of a slight "w"-like lip shape.

    • red, right, sorry, three, around
  3. Do not roll or tap the English /r/.

    Unlike Spanish, Italian, or Hindi, the tongue tip does not vibrate.

    • very (one smooth r, not a trilled one)

Minimal pairs

  • light / right — /l/ (touch) vs /r/ (no touch)
  • led / red — tongue touches for "led", not for "red"
  • collect / correct — classic /l/ vs /r/ confusion
  • glass / grass — /l/ vs /r/ in a cluster

Tips to remember

  • For /l/, prove the contact: hold your tongue on the ridge and hum "lllll".
  • For /r/, start from a "w" lip shape, then pull the tongue back without touching anything.
  • In many accents (US), the /r/ after a vowel is pronounced (car, park); in others (UK RP) it is silent. Pick one accent and stay consistent.

Common mistakes

  • ✗ Rolling the r in "right" like a Spanish "rr". → ✓ A smooth, non-rolled /r/ with the tongue curled back. — English /r/ has no tongue-tip vibration.