How to roll your R's - Exercises that work!

In this video, I'll show you how to learn to roll your R's.
Many people (especially English speakers) still have problems with this sound and keep asking "How do I trill my R???"

Here you'll see exercises from the Russian speech therapist. So if you're having trouble with Russian pronunciation (or Spanish pronunciation), this practice might be helpful.

You can do it!

[delphineblue]

I am sitting here trying unsuccessfully to roll rrrs, and my cat comes over to me and purrs loudly. Show off.

[PK-wpxu]

Ok, I'm 22 years old, my native language has rolling Rs, I've never been able to do more than a bit of a roll as a part of the 'tr' or 'dr' sound. Using a finger for this exercise was kinda awkward, so I grabbed a Q-tip, did it for a bit with a Q-tip and then without it and OH MY GOD. It's still pretty sloppy, but I'm actually able to (kinda) roll it after doing this once! Hopefully if I practice it regularly I can perfect it, thank you so much!

[toll]

I think I just made every noise on the planet except for a rolled r

[jx]

*tries this exercise for 30 minutes
*tries to roll 'R'
*French 'R' comes out

**quits*

[robinlevinson]

This is THE ONE! I'm 38 and I've never rolled my Rs until today. Your exercises were the ones that made it happen! I'm so grateful to have found your video!

[daniellezelaya]

I am a native English speaking speech-language pathologist and this is the first method that I have found that has worked for me! I am now able to produce the rolled r in isolation! Thank you!

[_ATW_]

I did the tongue stretching exercises and I just rolled the perfect r just after I did it, but it literally worked once and now I can't do it again! ☹️

Update: Keep practicing and keep doing the tongue-stretching exercise every day! Keep saying "Prince of Prussia" a few times, keeps adding a letter "D" after the "P's" (so you say "Pdrince Of Pdruussia" - this helps you identify where your tongue needs to be. Everytime you get the chance to practice try and Roll the R instead of just saying "r" in words (like if you're reading something to yourself, whenever there's an R-word use it as a chance to practice), listen to Russian people talk and try to pronounce things like they do (sounds daft but honestly that's helping me so much), learn Russian too (interestingly, I actually roll my R's better when I speak Russian somehow), try and add a silent "D" in words when you're gonna roll yours R's (example, say "D-Russia", the tongue will be in the right place and it helps when you pronounce the R) and above all, keep practicing.

Honestly, I can pretty much do it now, but it doesn't quite sound as strong or pronounced as I want it to yet, but the fact I can even trill the R'S with my tongue instead of it coming from my throat like a French R is in itself progress for me, because before I had absolutely no chance!

Those are all little tips that are helping me, so thought I'd share incase they help others too.


Thank you so much for uploading this! You've helped me immeasurably, and I'm thankful to all Russian people in the videos I've seen of them trilling R's because listening to them has helped me (The Russian way seems to work best for me). 😎

[hannahgautsche]

This totally works! I spent 30 years not being able to do the "rr." I speak Spanish very well and wanted to be able to speak it correctly. I watched so many videos, read tips, instructions, etc. and nothing helped. I found this video and ended up buying the full course. After a month of doing the exercises and stretches, I woke up one morning and could do it! It's been a year and a half now :)

[noirberries]

wow the Q tip actually worked for me, i was pushing it like how u described, and i was like ouch thats painful, a minute later, i am trilling!!!! thank you i have been trying to trill the R for years !!!

[flwrpwr]

Spanish teacher: ok say carro
Me:takes out q-tips

[MrSquanchy]

Thank you, I'm getting closer to doing it! This video has taught me more than all of the Trill/Spanish RR's put together.
(I am learning Spanish and I am stuck)

[MercuryTheVexilliologyNerd]

God, after years, and I mean years of not being able to do it, even as a Russian born and raised in Pskov, I could not do it - I was bullied and took speech therapy for years but still nothing, ig something changed because after using this video for literally about a month I finally got it – I finally feel... «normal» but do not feel like me, even if you are from a place where its used, do not feel like you're bad – you are always beautiful just the way you are

[susanowen]

I didn't try the Q-tip trick (can't get up to get a q-tip; the dog's in my lap) but I did the tongue exercises and wow! What a difference! I wish I'd known "long and relaxed" was the key 40 years ago when I was struggling in high school Spanish. I'm confident that with some practice, I'll be able to do it without even thinking about it. Many thanks for posting the video!

[commanderkei]

I want to point out that I look like a mental patient with my finger in my mouth, sitting in a dorm study room at 3-AM going “dledeledeledele”

[cyrex]

MISSING TECHNIQUE: This did it for me instantly after months trying: Lie in bed and tilt your head completely back. This makes your tongue rest against the roof of your mouth. Much easier to get the tongue into position while leaving it relaxed.

[eseosaosunde]

This method works. Within hours I was apply to roll my tongue...not fluently but it worked! Practice makes perfect!

[derekhalber]

I've bought your full tutorial, it's amazing, thank you!!! I can do it now! I've been trying for so long and finally understood what was wrong! Thank you!!!

[PpigeonInASuit.]

I don't know how I ended up here.
But as a native speaker of a language that uses heavily rolled Rs, I'll add this. Rolling R sound takes more air than other sounds. The air makes the tongue move, not the muscles. The tongue itself should be quite relaxed so the air can make it move. Using more air may help you make the sound at first; then, you can figure out how to control it better with less air once you get the feel for it.

[sd]

I watched countless videos, lost my hearts thousands of times...until I found this

[yucydtx]

Everyone here during quarantine trying to learn this 😂