Pronunciation tips for the Japanese R and V sounds
Excel in Japanese: Important Test Mistakes to Avoid: Pronunciation tips for the Japanese R and V sounds
The Japanese “R” sound is quite distinct from the English “R” or “L” sounds. It is a voiced alveolar tap, produced by quickly tapping the tip of the tongue against the gum ridge just behind the upper front teeth, similar to the quick flapping sound in the English word “better” (in some accents). It is somewhat between an “R,” “L,” and “D” sound, but no tongue rolling is involved.
Tips for pronouncing the Japanese R:
- Lightly tap the tongue on the gum ridge behind the top front teeth.
- Make a sound that is a cross between “r,” “l,” and “d.”
- Do not roll the tongue as in many English or Spanish “r” sounds.
- Practice the syllables ra, ri, ru, re, ro making sure the tongue taps quickly at the same spot. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Regarding the Japanese “V” sound:
- Japanese traditionally does not have a native “v” sound.
- When Japanese speakers pronounce English words with “v,” they might substitute it with a “b” sound, pronouncing “video” as “bideo.”
- The English “v” sound requires the bottom lip to lightly touch the upper teeth with voiced airflow.
- For Japanese speakers learning English, it is important to practice this mouth position to differentiate “v” from “b” and “f” sounds. 8
In summary, mastering the Japanese “R” involves a quick tongue tap that is neither an English “R” nor “L,” and the “V” sound does not exist natively in Japanese, so it requires conscious practice in English pronunciation contexts.