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Makiasan Posted 12 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

R and L

It is always difficult for me to distinguish the pronunciation "R" and "L", so I always try to memorize the spelling of words which contain R or L, so that I can rather pronounce them ok. The other day, I found a word "colonel" which has the R sound.

Can you name other tricky words, which have the letter L, but pronounce R, and vice versa?

Plus, to native speakers ears, the pronunciation of R and L sound similar?? I'm curious about why the word colonel has the R sound.

Thank you.
  

Top answer

Can you name other tricky words, which have the letter L, but pronounce R, and vice versa? That is the only one that I have found. I introduce it to many of my students as the sole exception.

— Mister Micawber

  • Can you name other tricky words, which have the letter L, but pronounce R, and vice versa?
  • That is the only one that I have found.
  • I introduce it to many of my students as the sole exception.
  • Makiasan Plus, to native speakers ears, the pronunciation of R and L sound similar?
  • No.
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3 Answers
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MakiasanThe other day, I found a word "colonel" which has the R sound.Can you name other tricky words, which have the letter L, but pronounce R, and vice versa?
That is the only one that I have found. I introduce it to many of my students as the sole exception.
MakiasanPlus, to native speakers ears, the pronunciation of R and L s
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Another oddly-pronounced military rank is lieutenant, which comes from French. In AmE it is pronounced loo-tenant, which loosely resembles the French pronunciation. In BrE it is pronounced leff-tenant, and has been for hundreds of years.
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Thank you so much, Mr. Micawber!

Maki
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