Deutsches R
German R Sound
Standard German R is uvular /ʁ/, produced at the back of the throat (similar to French R). At syllable end, R is often vocalized to /ɐ/ (like 'uh'): 'aber' → /aːbɐ/, 'Mutter' → /mʊtɐ/. Initial R and R after consonants use the uvular sound: 'rot', 'drei'.
Sounds
| IPA | Beispiel | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| /ʁ/ initial | rot | red |
| /ʁ/ after consonant | drei | three |
| /ɐ/ syllable-final | Wasser | water |
| /ɐ/ in -er | Mutter | mother |
Minimal Pairs
Rat
advice
Rad
wheel
Meer
sea
mehr
more
Tips
Practice gargling gently with water — that's the position for the uvular R.
In -er endings and syllable-final -r, just say 'uh' /ɐ/. Don't try to roll it.
Don't roll your R like in Spanish or Italian. German R is at the back of the throat.
Common Mistakes
Using rolled R like Spanish
Pronouncing final -er like English
Related Sounds
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