How To Pronounce The German “R”

Are you currently learning to speak German, but struggling to correctly pronounce the consonant “R” sound? Read on for some practical hints for how to pronounce this difficult consonant and speak German with a more authentic-sounding accent.

Why Is It So Difficult For English Speakers To Pronounce The German “R”?

When pronouncing “R” in American English, you will find that your tongue naturally rolls slightly. When speaking German, this will not produce the desired sound. It can be difficult to break out of this habit.

Furthermore, unlike in American English, it is expected that you will pronounce every consonant when speaking German. In particular, consonants coming at the end of words must be crisp and clear. It is not acceptable, as is the case in American English, to soften or drop consonant sounds at the end of words.

Exercises To Try

So, how can you train yourself to pronounce a German “R” correctly? Try these suggestions:

1. Think of the “R” sound as originating from the back of your throat.

Practice gargling with a mouthful of water and note how the sensation feels. This is approximately what you want to replicate (without the water!) when speaking the hard “R” sound. The sound should be generated from the uvular — the dangling piece of soft tissue at the back of the mouth that triggers a gag reflex in most people when touched. Try not to trill the “R” with your tongue (as you might when speaking other languages such as French or Spanish).

2. Focus on keeping your tongue and jaw relaxed.

Speak a few words out loud in English containing the letter “R,” and you will notice that you are using many of the muscles around your jaw and mouth. This should not be the case when you speak German. Make an effort to relax the muscles and concentrate on generating sounds from your throat instead.

3. Listen carefully to native speakers.

The best way to learn is from other people who have already mastered a skill you wish to learn, so in this case your best course of action is to spend time with a native German speaker who is willing to correct you when necessary. Ask them to speak a few words with “R” sounds. Repeat them back and listen to their feedback until your pronunciation improves. If this isn’t possible, the next best option is to find recordings of speakers, play them, and then attempt to imitate them. This may be frustrating at first, but over time you can train your muscles to move in new ways as you speak. Do this exercise with a group of other people who are also trying to learn German and you can offer feedback to one another.

Does It Matter If Your Pronunciation Isn’t Perfect?

As a non-native speaker, it isn’t realistic to expect that you will ever speak German with a perfect German accent! As long as you try your best and your grammar and vocabulary is mostly correct, native speakers will understand what you are trying to say. Another factor to remember is that whilst the throat-based or uvular “R” is considered standard German, pronunciation varies by region and within individuals. For example, in some southern areas such as the Stuttgart region, Germans are more likely to roll their “R”s using their tongues than those who were raised in northern regions such as Hamburg and Berlin.

If you are struggling to master the uvular “R,” using a rolling “R” is an acceptable substitute. Whilst native speakers will appreciate your efforts to speaker their language correctly, you are unlikely to encounter problems in making yourself understood if your “R”s aren’t perfect!

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