The Trilled R
/r/Accent-Specific Coaching
For American Speakers
Your flapped 't' in 'butter' is the single Italian 'r'. For the trill (double r), put your tongue tip behind your upper teeth and blow air to make it vibrate rapidly.
For British Speakers
The trilled 'r' requires your tongue tip to vibrate behind your upper teeth. Start by saying 'duh-duh-duh' faster until it becomes a trill.
For Australian / NZ Speakers
Your flapped 't' in 'butter' gives you the single 'r'. For the trill, blow air past your tongue tip behind the upper teeth.
For Irish Speakers
If you trill your r's naturally, you already have this. If not, start with rapid 'duh-duh-duh' until it buzzes.
For Scottish Speakers
Your Scottish rolled 'r' IS this sound. You’re already there!
For Indian Speakers
Your tapped 'r' is the single Italian 'r'. For the trill, speed up that tap with more air pressure.
For South African Speakers
Start with rapid 'duh-duh-duh' and speed it up until the tongue vibrates. That's the Italian trilled 'r'.
For Nigerian / W. African Speakers
Your tapped 'r' gives you single 'r'. Speed it up with more air for the trilled 'rr'.
Practice Words
roma
Rome
carro
cart
terra
earth
correre
to run
birra
beer
Practice Sentence
La birra di Roma è buona
The beer from Rome is good
Practice this sound in the app
Get personalised pronunciation coaching for the Italian sounds based on your specific accent.
More Italian Sounds
Single tapped r
/ʎ/The GL Sound
/ɲ/The GN Sound
Double Consonants (Gemination)
/ɛ / e/Open vs closed e
/ɔ / o/Open vs closed o