Minimal Pair /l/ and /r/
Below is a list of words that vary only by one having the sound /r/ and the other the sound /l/.
You can use this list to practise the sounds, or as a list of words to be careful in pronouncing.
/r/ is pronounced many different ways in various English-speaking countries and regions, so it is not particularly useful to ask students to base their pronunciation on what native speakers do with their mouths. As making a distinction is the most important thing, it is often better to exaggerate the differences between the two sounds. These descriptions are therefore meant to be useful for students rather than explanations of usual pronunciations.
/r/ is totally unlike /l/ for English speakers. In fact, some people pronounce it much more like /w/. The best way of making the distinction is try to move your tongue as little as possible when making the sound. (You can use your hand to help in the same way as suggested with /l/, but this time keeping your hand still. It can also help to start with your top teeth just touching the back of your bottom lip.)
Elementary
alive arrive
fly fry
light right
long wrong
Pre-Intermediate
collect correct
glamour grammar
glass grass
lace race
lane rain
law raw
lead read
leader reader
led red
lighter writer
load road
lock rock
locker rocker
lot rot
play pray
Intermediate
belly berry
blew brew
blue brew
blush brush
clash crash
clown crown
flee free
glow grow
lack rack
lamb ram
lamp ramp
lane rain
late rate
laze raise
lead read
lice rice
lied ride
lies rise
lip rip
list wrist
locket rocket
loom room
lows rose
luck ruck
lush rush
pilot pirate
Upper Intermediate
belly berry
blight bright
blues bruise
blush brush
fleas freeze
flee free
flees freeze
laid raid
lair rare
lake rake
lamp ramp
lap wrap
late rate
lather rather
lay ray
lead red
leech reach
leer rear
lentil rental
lid rid
lob rob
loot root
lot rot
loyal royal
play pray
Advanced
blacken bracken
blight bright
blew brew
clash crash
flea free
fleas freeze
gland grand
glow grow
jelly jerry
lace race
lack rack
lag rag
lagging ragging
lair rare
lake rake
lamb ram
lank rank
lash rash
law raw
laze raze
lead reed
leek reek
leap reap
leech reach
leer rear
lib rib
lick rick
light rite
limb rim
lime rhyme
link rink
lit writ
loam roam
loaves roves
lob rob
lobe robe
look rook
loom room
lute route
lope rope
lout rout
lubber rubber
luck ruck
lug rug
lump rump
lung rung
lush rush
lust rust
splat sprat
splint sprint