Comments on: Help Me to Trill the Spanish ‘R’

By: Eduardo

Eduardo — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:11:41 +0000

Saludos desde Mexico amigos

I made a short video tutorial to help you
rolling your r’s

(alveolar trill)

Hope it is helpful but you have to practice and read the instructions.

you can find it at:

http://radicalspanishlearning.com
or in youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9mMvuRGKY8

By: Ramses

Ramses — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:32:18 +0000

RA_BCC; you’re aware of the fact that the theory of ‘critical age of language acquisition’ is not confirmed, and that there’re test-cases which confirm the contrary (that people can learn languages all their life)?

By: RA_BCC

RA_BCC — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:17:09 +0000

I don’t think it’s genetic in a sense of being passed from parent to child, but as species we have a language instinct. The problem in not being able to acquire the pronunciation is that you may be past the “critical age” of language acquisition. Anyway, a good book to read on this sorta of thing is Steven Pinker’s “The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language.” http://www.amazon.com/Language-Instinct-Mind-Creates-P-S/dp/0061336467/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212541864&sr=8-2

By: Rmss

Rmss — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:34:19 +0000

I just wrote a post on my blog regarding the rolling R. I’ve had difficulties myself with it, but now I’m able to make a perfect rolled R, even in words.

http://spanish-only.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-to-roll-your-r.html

By: malinka18

malinka18 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:31:13 +0000

Ah! the trill is my main stubbling block and I’m almost ready to throw in the towel but I know that I’m not alone. I’m currently studying Spanish online http://learnspanishrapidly.blogspot.com and enjoying the luxury of studying at my convenience. My husband already speaks 4 languages, Spanish being one of them, (I’m sadly still monolingual) and he picks up languages fast (he grew up speaking 3 as a child and then picked up the 4th as an adult). I sometimes think that some brains are wired for languages and others are not.

By: Angelique

Angelique — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:51:04 +0000

hey, did anyone answer the question that lacking the ability might be genetic but can be overcome? I can’t, my husband can, and our 4 year old can in a big way. genetic????

By: Edwin

Edwin — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:04:02 +0000

Rmss,
Yes, my Skype name is edwinhlaw. Thanks.

By: Rmss

Rmss — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:31:41 +0000

@11
That’s not true. While I was raised with an American/British accent I still got influences from Australian relatives when I was older (let’s say 16/17 years). When I was studying Russian I soon got a Moscow accent. Many people I know were able to get a right native accent with other languages aswell.

Edwin; is there a way I can contact you? E-mail/Skype?

By: Silvia

Silvia — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:46:22 +0000

Only children can get the right accent. The best you can do is to listen with earphones to something spoken in Spanish. Let me tell you that I live in France and I have an accent as the language is not easy I thank God that I have the accent because as soon as I open my mouth and they listen to my accent they pay more attention and they try to help and to speak clearly. So do not worry for your accent for the Spanish speaking people to listen to an American accent is something cute.
Best luck

By: Dauthendey

Dauthendey — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:56:18 +0000

Edwin,

Yeah, when I made the sound as a kid for fun I did it against the palate, and it was more difficult to bring the tongue forward to the alveolar ridge while speaking Spanish… I think I am doing it properly now, but it is a work in progress.

Why not practice trilling against the palate while moving the tongue forward? (For me, the trill stops once my tongue gets to the teeth.) Practice trilling moving the tongue back and forth. (I notice now that the tongue muscle tension and shape is a bit different as you move it.) Anyway, then try out the alveolar trill with word-initial r’s, as in rojo, which hopefully is easier for you than between vowels, as it is for me.

Danling, it’s just the tip of the tongue vibrating against the top of the mouth. For now, I’d just try to get it to trill anywhere (maybe against the palate is easier) and then later worry about where exactly the tongue should be for a Spanish trilled r.

By: Danling

Danling — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 03:31:10 +0000

The good news after reading this blog and all the comments is that I felt I am not alone. The bad news is it confuses me even more! I see different people describing how to trill the r differently. I am about to pull my hair out.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:23:52 +0000

The Spanish trill more than many Latin Americans. It is only the initial R and the double R that needs to be heavily trilled. there is no doubt in my mind that the tip of the tongue is back from the front teeth.

By: edwinlaw

edwinlaw — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:40:46 +0000

Steve,
This is exactly the confusion I have. I can make the trill by placing my tongue close to the upper ridge of my month. But other people keep telling me to place my tongue at that ridge right behind my front teeth. I cannot make any sound out of this at all.

I also reckon that I have to force much more air when trilling the ‘r’. However, I don’t hear the Spanish speakers doing it forcefully.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 03:16:41 +0000

Rolling the “r” as in Spanish is the issue. Here is my view.

For the trilled :”r: which begins a word. “R” in Rioja as in the wine region. Place the tongue against the upper ridge of the mouth that is a little back of the upper front teeth, as if you are going to make an “n” or “d” sound. Then trill the tongue at that position. It should sound almost like “nrrrioja” or drrrioja”. Note that when trilling the tip of the tongue does not touch the palate or ridge of the mouth.

For the double “r” as in “perro”, dog, you have to trill the tip of the tongue in the same position, but no “n” or “d’ is needed nor should one be used. But exaggerate the “rrrr”, as in “perrrrro”. Practice saying it many times.

Now just say “pero” as in but. The same sound without trilling the “r”.

By: edwinlaw

edwinlaw — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 11:23:54 +0000

Dauthendey,
Thanks for the comprehensive guide.

Here is my problem. Most guides tell me to place my tongue behind my front teeth (alveolar ridge). But I can’t make the trill. Instead, I do my trill by placing my tongue near the hard palate which is further back from the alveolar ridge.

Any advise on this?