For Chinese speakers
rice or lice?
East-Asian languages collapse /r/ and /l/. /r/ uses curled tongue tip; /l/ touches the ridge.
The sound in “rice”
/r/
as in red /rɛd/
Tongue curled back OR bunched, lips slightly rounded.
- Tongue:
- tip-palatal
- Lips:
- rounded
- Voicing:
- voiced
The sound in “lice”
/l/
as in let /lɛt/
Tongue tip on alveolar ridge, air around sides.
- Tongue:
- tip-alveolar
- Lips:
- neutral
- Voicing:
- voiced
Hear the difference
Tap each word. Every pair differs by exactly one sound — if both sound the same when you say them, this is your pair to drill.
Do you mix up rice and lice?
Record one sentence and find out in 30 seconds — free, no account.
Get my free score