The letter R is arguably the most difficult sound in the French language, but it doesn't have to be. With a bit of practice, you can learn to pronounce the French R with ease.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: Less than 5 minutes
Here's How:
- Open your mouth.
- Close your throat and carefully enunciate the sound K, several times.
- Pay attention to where in your throat the K sound is made. We'll call this the K place.
- Begin slowly closing your throat, as if to keep from swallowing a mouthful of liquid, until you can almost feel the K place. Your throat should be only partially constricted.
- Tense the muscles around the K place.
- Gently push air through your partially constricted throat.
- Practice saying Ra-Ra-Ra (where R = steps 4-6) every day.
Tips:
- Try not to think of this letter as an R. The French R is nothing like the English R (pronounced in the middle of the mouth) or the Spanish R (pronounced in the front of the mouth). The French R is pronounced in the throat.
- The French R sounds a lot like the ch in 'Loch Ness' and the kh in Arabic transcription (e.g., Khalid).
- Practice makes perfect!
