L and R sound the same to most Japanese people

Hi, this really happened to me.
I was talking about the drama SUITS with a friend, and I wanted to mention Louis Litt, but at the time I didn't know the spelling and couldn't say his name even though I'd been watching the drama for a while. I heard his name so many times, but I couldn't tell.

Anyway, L and R are just らりるれろ in Japanese. You might not be able to believe it, but most Japanese people including me really can't tell the difference between the two sounds. They are the SAME.

[reiinon]

the mom-like correction of her "favorite" pronunciation ... 😭😭

[fmg]

Yes, as an English speaker and current student of Nihongo, I simply pronounce all "R"s with the "L" sound. Haha, I know, not 100% correct but life is too short! Close enough!

[massvt]

Your daughter's English is very good, by the way..
The "L" sound uses the tongue more, while the "R" sound involves the entire mouth, or so it seems to me..

[MasonTheFurryCat]

this to be honest applied to chinese too :3

as a cantonese speaker

my first time learning english:

R- Alo/ Aluo

L - El/ Elo

Z - yi-sede/ si (/c/)

generally because no words in our language have a R or a Z sound.

[mariomillan]

Im watching suits right now as we speak currently on season 6 episode 4🍻🍻🍻

[Mizukis_redribbon]

My mama is Kenyan (kikuyu tribe) and her tribe is like Japanese when it comes to R and L.

[SavingPrivateRy]

R is your lips coming closer together with a slight raise of the jaw. L is using your tongue. 2 completely different feelings and movements. Also very easy to remember that one involves using your tongue and the other does not.

[frankgonzalezofficial]

In Spanish Arroz 🍚 means rice. But Japanese and often Chinese people say Aloz.

[mattgoyette]

Your mother looks like such a sweet woman. Also her English is much better than my Japonese

[中国-tk]

yup just like they pronounce love as rabu

[gkfujiwaraesquibel]

L and R to non Japanese: Different 😮
L and R to Japanese: Same 😅

[Seawolf]

Is the Dutch r close enough? I always felt it was pretty much a Dutch r and struggled to understand why some japanese struggle so hard and make it sound like an L. Heck here i am trying to make it sound more like an L. But when i hear Shanks from one piece try to say Luffy, he can't even say it like an L and just uses a Dutch like r.

[Corzappy]

Now I mean no disrespect here, but Paakaaa is really sounding like Parka without the unpronounceables.