R vs L Pronunciation: English /r/ and /l/ Sounds Explained
Learn to pronounce English R and L clearly. Practice the difference between the Red Car /r/ and Little Bell /l/ sounds with guided exercises and tongue-placement tips.
Please refer to the Little Bell /l/ and Red Car /r/ lessons for detailed instruction on how to pronounce each sound.
Be mindful of the tip of your tongue to clearly differentiate these two sounds.
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For Little Bell /l/, the tip of your tongue presses gently against the ridge just behind your top front teeth (we call this The Ridge).
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For Red Car /r/, the tip of your tongue does not touch anything—it stays slightly back and away from the roof of your mouth.
LITTLE BELL /l/ and RED CAR /r/ Training
The following exercises combine listening, shadowing, and gradually increasing complexity to help you internalize new sounds and rhythm patterns in your spoken English.
Level 1 is available to all visitors. CEA members unlock the complete training.
Goal: Hear and produce the Little Bell /l/ & Red Car /r/ sounds clearly in at the beginning of words and syllables.
1) Say each word slowly and clearly.
- For Little Bell /l/, focus on lifting the tip of your tongue to the ridge behind your top front teeth and keeping the sides of your tongue relaxed.
- Make sure the tip of your tongue does not touch the roof of your mouth for Red Car /r/.
2) Record yourself the listen back:
- Do your /l/ and /r/ sound clear and distinct?
- Are you avoiding substitutions?
Mini Challenge: “Flood” the words in each column (say all of one column in a row). Can you keep the Little Bell /l/ & Red Car /r/ sound consistent from top to bottom?
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Little Bell /l/
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Red Car /r/
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light
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right
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lead
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read
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lace
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race
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lamp
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ramp
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alive
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arrive
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flood these words
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flood these words
Your next step: Become a CEA member and put this into practice with…
Go beyond understanding and start applying. Members unlock guided phrase, sentence, and paragraph practice that helps new sounds settle into your muscle memory and carry over into everyday speech.
Ask questions right inside each lesson and receive clear guidance when something feels confusing—so you can practice with confidence instead of second-guessing.
Apply what you’ve learned through short, realistic speaking prompts that bridge practice and real conversation, helping your voice feel steadier and more intentional.
Each week, you’ll get a simple speaking challenge that encourages you to apply what you’re learning right away.
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