How to tell /l/ and /r/ apart

Practice the difference between the lateral /l/ and the approximant /r/.

/l/
Lateral L

light /laɪt/

The tongue tip touches the ridge behind the teeth and air flows around the sides.

Lỗi thường gặp: Learners may replace /l/ with /r/ or /n/.

/r/
Approximant R

right /raɪt/

The tongue curls back without touching the roof of the mouth.

Lỗi thường gặp: Learners may replace /r/ with /l/.

  • /l/ — the tongue tip touches the ridge: light, lead, glass.
  • /r/ — the tongue curls back, no contact: right, read, grass.
  • For /l/ the tongue touches; for /r/ it does not.
  • Keep your lips slightly rounded for /r/.

Cặp âm dễ nhầm

light/laɪt/
right/raɪt/
lead/liːd/
read/riːd/
glass/ɡlɑːs/
grass/ɡrɑːs/