oratorIQ
← R Blends

Consonant–R Blends

Start with a consonant, then move into R. Watch the movement, study the still image, and practice the words.

FR /fɹ/

All blends ↑

Touch your lower lip lightly to your upper teeth. Let air flow for f, then release the lip as your tongue moves toward r.

FR side-view movement: Touch your lower lip lightly to your upper teeth. Let air flow for f, then release the lip as your tongue moves toward r.
Human side view · watch the lips and tongue move into R.

Practice words

At the beginning

  • frog
  • fruit
  • friend
  • frame
  • fresh

Inside the word

  • afraid
  • defrost
  • grapefruit
  • Africa
  • bullfrog

Say each word slowly, then at a comfortable speaking pace. Keep the consonants together.

See the still image: start → transition → RThree stages of FR: first consonant, transition, then English R. Touch your lower lip lightly to your upper teeth. Let air flow for f, then release the lip as your tongue moves toward r.

DR /dɹ/

All blends ↑

Touch the ridge behind your upper teeth with your tongue tip for d. Release into r while keeping the voice on.

DR side-view movement: Touch the ridge behind your upper teeth with your tongue tip for d. Release into r while keeping the voice on.
Human side view · watch the lips and tongue move into R.

Practice words

At the beginning

  • draw
  • drink
  • drop
  • drive
  • dream

Inside the word

  • children
  • bedroom
  • raindrops
  • hundred
  • laundry

Say each word slowly, then at a comfortable speaking pace. Keep the consonants together.

See the still image: start → transition → RThree stages of DR: first consonant, transition, then English R. Touch the ridge behind your upper teeth with your tongue tip for d. Release into r while keeping the voice on.

CR /kɹ/

All blends ↑

Lift the back of your tongue to the soft palate for k. Release that closure as the tongue moves into r. The letters cr represent /kɹ/.

CR side-view movement: Lift the back of your tongue to the soft palate for k. Release that closure as the tongue moves into r. The letters cr represent /kɹ/.
Human side view · watch the lips and tongue move into R.

Practice words

At the beginning

  • crab
  • crash
  • crane
  • crown
  • cream

Inside the word

  • secret
  • spacecraft
  • across
  • increase
  • microscope

Say each word slowly, then at a comfortable speaking pace. Keep the consonants together.

See the still image: start → transition → RThree stages of CR: first consonant, transition, then English R. Lift the back of your tongue to the soft palate for k. Release that closure as the tongue moves into r. The letters cr represent /kɹ/.

BR /bɹ/

All blends ↑

Close both lips for b with your voice on. Prepare the tongue for r during the closure, then open your lips straight into r.

BR side-view movement: Close both lips for b with your voice on. Prepare the tongue for r during the closure, then open your lips straight into r.
Human side view · watch the lips and tongue move into R.

Practice words

At the beginning

  • brick
  • bread
  • bridge
  • brush
  • brown

Inside the word

  • zebra
  • eyebrow
  • cobra
  • umbrella
  • library

Say each word slowly, then at a comfortable speaking pace. Keep the consonants together.

See the still image: start → transition → RThree stages of BR: first consonant, transition, then English R. Close both lips for b with your voice on. Prepare the tongue for r during the closure, then open your lips straight into r.

GR /ɡɹ/

All blends ↑

Lift the back of your tongue to the soft palate for g with your voice on. Release into r without adding an extra vowel.

GR side-view movement: Lift the back of your tongue to the soft palate for g with your voice on. Release into r without adding an extra vowel.
Human side view · watch the lips and tongue move into R.

Practice words

At the beginning

  • grow
  • group
  • green
  • grapes
  • grab

Inside the word

  • angry
  • kilogram
  • hungry
  • ingredient
  • degree

Say each word slowly, then at a comfortable speaking pace. Keep the consonants together.

See the still image: start → transition → RThree stages of GR: first consonant, transition, then English R. Lift the back of your tongue to the soft palate for g with your voice on. Release into r without adding an extra vowel.

PR /pɹ/

All blends ↑

Close both lips for p without voicing. Prepare the tongue for r, then release the lips into r in one movement.

PR side-view movement: Close both lips for p without voicing. Prepare the tongue for r, then release the lips into r in one movement.
Human side view · watch the lips and tongue move into R.

Practice words

At the beginning

  • press
  • pretzel
  • princess
  • practice
  • print

Inside the word

  • apricot
  • surprise
  • footprint
  • fingerprint
  • apron

Say each word slowly, then at a comfortable speaking pace. Keep the consonants together.

See the still image: start → transition → RThree stages of PR: first consonant, transition, then English R. Close both lips for p without voicing. Prepare the tongue for r, then release the lips into r in one movement.

TR /tɹ/

All blends ↑

Touch the ridge behind your upper teeth with your tongue tip for t. Release directly into r, with no extra “uh” between the sounds.

TR side-view movement: Touch the ridge behind your upper teeth with your tongue tip for t. Release directly into r, with no extra “uh” between the sounds.
Human side view · watch the lips and tongue move into R.

Practice words

At the beginning

  • train
  • travel
  • tree
  • truck
  • treat

Inside the word

  • country
  • electric
  • controls
  • mattress
  • pantry

Say each word slowly, then at a comfortable speaking pace. Keep the consonants together.

See the still image: start → transition → RThree stages of TR: first consonant, transition, then English R. Touch the ridge behind your upper teeth with your tongue tip for t. Release directly into r, with no extra “uh” between the sounds.