/ɹ/

The American R is unique: your tongue doesn't touch anything. There are two equally correct ways to produce it:

Bunched R: Start with an "ee" sound. Keep your tongue wide so the sides touch your upper back teeth. Now arch the middle of your tongue up and pull it back toward your throat. The tip stays relaxed and neutral.

Retroflex R: Curl your tongue tip up toward (but not touching) the roof of your mouth, somewhere behind your upper teeth. Think of making a backwards "C" shape with your tongue.

For both methods: tense your tongue, pull it back slightly, and let the sides of your tongue make gentle contact with your upper molars. Your lips should round slightly and push forward away from your teeth.

• Tongue touching the roof: The American R is an approximant, meaning your tongue gets close but never actually touches. If your tongue touches anything, you'll produce a different sound (like a tap or trill)
• Forgetting the lips: The lip rounding is essential. Without it, the sound can come out thin or unclear
• Using a flap or trill: If your native language has a rolled or tapped R (like Spanish), focus on keeping your tongue completely free from contact

Try this self-check: say a long "er" sound and slowly move your tongue around. When you hear a clear American R, freeze and notice where everything is. Most people find one method (bunched or retroflex) feels more natural - there's no wrong choice.

If you're struggling, try starting from "sh" (as in "sure"). Your tongue is already bunched and the sides are up. Simply slide the tongue back while rounding your lips, and you'll glide right into the R sound.