520. The 5 R vowels of English

520. The 5 R vowels of English

Author: Hadar Shemesh June 16, 2026 Duration: 24:38

The R is one of the hardest sounds in English…but it doesn't have to be after this episode ;)

In American English, there are two R sounds: the strong R (red, around, crazy) and the soft R, or R vowels. That's when the R appears AFTER a vowel (car, here, first). 

In this focused practice session, we're working through the 5 key R vowel sounds together.

For each sound, I'll give you words and example sentences to follow along with. 

By the end, these tricky words like world, work, word, girl and first won't feel so scary anymore.

Want to go deeper into pronunciation? 

Join my FREE Pronunciation Masterclass! A full hour of everything I know about sounds, prosody, intonation, rhythm, and stress, so you can stop putting so much effort into speaking English. It's completely free, and it's going to be fun. → https://bit.ly/4xZGyqv  

Check out these other R videos to keep practicing: https://bit.ly/4vMcltM 


Hadar Shemesh hosts The InFluency Podcast, drawing from her own journey from an intermediate English speaker to a recognized pronunciation expert and fluency coach. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical, empathetic guide for anyone who feels stuck in their language learning. Hadar's conversations and solo episodes delve into the tangible strategies that actually work for acquiring an American accent, building unshakeable confidence, and moving beyond textbook English to authentic, fluid speech. You'll hear a blend of mindset shifts, technical pronunciation breakdowns, and stories from a global community of learners. The focus is always on the human side of fluency-how it connects to identity, courage, and communication. Each episode of this podcast feels like a direct coaching session, offering actionable steps that address the real frustrations and aspirations of students and teachers alike. Hadar's approach demystifies the process, making the path to speaking English with assurance feel not only possible but deeply personal. Tune in for a resource that understands the journey because the host has lived it, creating a space where progress is celebrated over perfection.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

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