How do you roll your r's?

daveymark

Lifer
Sep 15, 2003
10,573
1
0
You know, like the spanish or italian folk do? I can't figure it out. I know you have to relax your tongue and let the tip of it touch just behind the teeth, but I'm lost from there. Can anyone explain how to do this?
 

bsmithy

Senior member
Oct 24, 2003
458
0
0
open your mouth about halfway, then breath out fairly quickly

while doing this relax your tongue and bring it up into the stream of air against the roof of the mouth
if done right it should thud repeatedly, when it does just make an "R" sound at the same time
 

lokiju

Lifer
May 29, 2003
18,526
5
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Originally posted by: Kaz8teEN
Originally posted by: Jzero
It's genetic, I think. You either can do it or you can't.

ya, im thinking its genetic too.

I'd think so to since I can't for the life of me do it, but if that were the case then how come every single spanish speaking person can do it?
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
1
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Originally posted by: blazert40
Originally posted by: Kaz8teEN
Originally posted by: Jzero
It's genetic, I think. You either can do it or you can't.

ya, im thinking its genetic too.

I'd think so to since I can't for the life of me do it, but if that were the case then how come every single spanish speaking person can do it?

Can they? I can't roll my rs, but I speak Spanish with a pretty authentic accent (at least according to my teachers). In most cases, flipping the "r" is sufficient.

FWIW, my dad can't roll his either. But he can curl his tongue.
My mother can't curl her tongue, but she can roll her Rs.