/ɹ/: the alveolar approximant

Many languages have an r-like sound but not that many have a sound like English r which is represented by /ɹ/, although many places just use /r/ for short.

Word lists

List 1: read, rid, ray, red, rat, rut, rock, wrong, rode, rook, rude, write, rout, Roy

List 2: rat, ran, rag, read, reap, breed, shroud, proud, crowd, run, rupture, rug, row, rope, rose, room, roof, route, rowdy, brow, rob, red, rat, rip, rim, ray, roof, real

List 3: near, ear, clear, hair, there, care, they're, heard, third, turn, early, her, learn, curled, world, early, conform, inform, reform

List 4: probably, problem, president, surprise, reprise, represent, improbable, brim, broken, brine, cry, cram, crew, crib, grow, great, grand, grasp, grin, grill.

List 5: complex words: Periscope, parachute, errant, worry, Harry, merry, Korea, bereaved, cerebral, terrific, porous, Ferris, ferry, foreign, durian, Westeros, original, Harry, horror, very

Sentences

1. The boy had a nightmare that he tore his new raincoat.

2. Are they going to the barber? Is that where she got her hair styled? 

3. Pour water on the campfire when you're done roasting the marshmallows. I hear there's a bear nearby.

4. Our family lives there, by the shore. The weather and temperature are ever-changing especially in winter.

5. Burt’s the sturdy sort who doesn’t care about working overtime or overnight.

6. Inform him that the party is on Thursday evening, first avenue, downtown New York.

7. Yesterday morning we suffered a storm that cut the power.

8. The professor found the award procedure cordial, but formal.

9. The dancer was determined to learn how to perform under pressure.

Sentences /Cr/

1. I brought a brochure that I procured at the brewery.

2. My brawny brother briskly prodded me.

3. This program is probably too prim and proper for Brandon.

4. The president projects an air of brooding pride.

5. The problem is probably the primary predicament.

6. Christina cried and grabbed her boyfriend.

7. It's great that Mr. Crawley recruited you.

8. She created a creative take on crème brûlée.

9. The bureaucratic hypocrites quickly turned autocratic.

10. The crabs on Crete crawl quickly across the grove.

Read out loud

The number in brackets indicates the number of instances of this phoneme in the article. After reading the article, answer the question out loud using as many words with the phoneme as possible. 

72-Year-Old Sets 3 Records Crossing the Atlantic Alone (80)

• What are some of the most impressive records you've heard of?

Deaf Student Creates 100 New Scientific Signs (79)

• Have you ever dreamed of creating a new language or new word?

'Oyster Recycling' Improves Water Quality, Oyster Population (96)

• What are your thoughts of this type of recycling?

Annotated text:

The following text has been specially written to have more of the relevant sounds for you to practice. These sounds are annotated in the text. Try reading it out!