# The single r: a quick tap

> id: pronunciation.r-single · category: pronunciation · depth: standard · levels: A2 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** Between vowels, r is one tongue tap — exactly the American English 'tt/dd' in 'butter', 'ladder': pero, cara, hora. Never the English bunched r, never the French throat r.

English speakers already make this sound daily: say 'pot of tea' fast — that flap is pero's r. French speakers must move the r from the throat to the tongue tip.

After consonants and at word ends, same tap: tres, hablar, comer. The trap is contrast with rr: pero (but) / perro (dog), caro (expensive) / carro (car).

English speakers already own this sound: the flap in 'butter' or 'pot of tea' said fast is exactly the r of pero. It appears between vowels, after consonants, and at word ends (cara, tres, comer); the one thing to drill is its contrast with the trilled rr, since pero/perro and caro/carro are different words.

## Examples
- Quiero comprar harina. — I want to buy flour.
- Es caro, pero bueno. — It's expensive, but good.
- Quiero comer pero el perro se comió la carne. — I want to eat but the dog ate the meat.

Related: pronunciation.rr-trill

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