From the article: Pronouncing the 'R'
If you try pronouncing the R of Spanish like you do in English, not only will you be wrong, you'll also mark yourself as someone who doesn't care about trying to pronounce correctly. Although the R of Spanish is different than what you're used to, it isn't all that difficult, and millions of native English speakers have mastered it. If you're one of those, please offer your explanation to others so they can learn as well. Share Your Advice
"Pedro" worked for me.
- I am so new at Spanish speech. I don't have any words of advice at this time, but the "Pedro" for the R worked great for me.
- —wattenbach
Like the sound in "thirty"
- It is not uncommon in North America to hear the word "thirty" pronounced as if the spelling of the word could be "thurdy." I found it helpful to learn that when this happens, the "t" [d] in "thirty" will, to the Spanish ear, sound like [r].
- —al_on_spanishforum
Easy as butter
- Most people pronounce the "tt" in butter like it was "buder" rather than like "buter." That "d" sound is like the Spanish r. Your tongue should touch the alveolar ridge (might want to Google it). That's the ridge a little bit behind your teeth. What's the difference between that an a "d" in Spanish? The "d" is usually pronounced with the tongue touching the back of the teeth. It's a softer sound.
- —Guest Josh
Learned to say the name "Pedro"
- I am far from mastering the Spanish R, and am at even more of a disadvantage because when I was young, I learned the French R, which is a completely different beast entirely. However, I began to learn the Spanish R when repeating the name "Pedro. I think this may be a good place to start.
- —Guest Still Learning
Embarrasing R and RR moments
- For years I thought quinceañera was quinciñeta and my best efforts to pronounce perro came out as "pedo." I got away with the former but the latter definitely resulted in more than a few chuckles.
- —Guest Ocbizlaw
Pronouncing doble r
- Try saying quickly - tah dah, tah dah, tah dah. Practice this for several minutes a day.
- —kathyre
Learning to pronounce the Spanish R
- Practice the single R by saying the English words ladder, pitter, patter, potter. The DD and TT sounds in those words are tongue taps. If you can say them, you can say the R. Forget it's an R. Pretend it's the DD or TT in those words & you've got it! To do RR, same thing but fast and repeated. Use a lot of air. Practice in private. Think of a little boy with a machine gun.
- —lts64
