12.17: Structure - La lettre « r »

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Objectif

In this section, you will learn how to pronounce the letter « r »

Media Alternative

Listen to the audio clips that follow on this page to hear the French pronunciation of vocabulary and examples presented.

On étudie !

La lettre « r »

The letter “r” is probably one of the most pronounced letters of the French alphabet. Yet, it is one of the most challenging letters in French for foreigners. It is very different from the English “r”. But I usually tell my students that in different parts of France, this letter is pronounced differently so they shouldn’t worry too much about pronouncing it like a Parisian. In fact, during medieval times, the letter r was rolled like in Spanish.

Nonetheless, if you are ready and willing to pronounce it like a Parisian, we will explain here how to practice it.

(a) First, you may have noticed that when the letter “r” is at the end of a word that ends in “er”, it is silent (muet).

le barbier, en danger, un métier, aller

Note

There are some exceptions to this rule: amer, mer, hier, fier, cancer, cher

(b) When r is not preceded by the letter e, then it sounds a lot like "kh" or "gh" like in the name Khaled. Most websites claim that the r sound in French comes from the throat, but others suggest that we make the r sound when “the tip of the tongue sinks down to touch the bottom teeth, while the back of the tongue arches up”.

The r is actually pronounced with more friction when it is between two vowels or at the end of a word.

père, tour, voir, parents, girafe, bar

But it is pronounced with less friction when it is before a consonant.

partir, carte, cours, morceau, sortir, dortoir

Ressources supplémentaires

Watch the video to practice pronouncing The French R.

To learn more about the letter r click here.

Watch the video to practice the letter r + vowels.

On pratique !

Activité

Practice pronouncing these words.

craindre
croire
paris
aéroport
faire
français
erreur
rue
vouloir
suivre
fréquenter
le bonheur
bonjour
café crème
courrir