/ɹ/ vs /l/ — a second common confusion

If /l/ and /ɹ/ blur together

Some L1 backgrounds (Japanese, Korean, some Chinese dialects) merge /ɹ/ and /l/. The key difference:

• /l/ — tongue tip touches the alveolar ridge (just behind upper front teeth). Sides drop.
• /ɹ/ — tongue tip never touches anything. The sound comes from the back/bunched tongue body.

Test yourself

Place a finger lightly against your upper teeth. Say "led". Did your tongue touch the roof? Now say "red" — your tongue should stay away from your teeth.

Minimal pairs

• red vs led
• right vs light
• rock vs lock
• race vs lace
• road vs load
• row vs low
• rate vs late
• ray vs lay

After practice, run it through the analyzer

Try this sentence in the analyzer
“Ricky ran around the bright red room.”
Analyze ↗