Bangla র and ড়: two R sounds, one letter apart
র is close to a Spanish or Scottish rolled R — the tongue taps the ridge behind the teeth. ড় is made by flicking the tongue backwards off the roof of the mouth, and English has nothing like it. Because both are written with an R in transliteration, learners tend to use one sound for both.
Where the tongue goes
For র, tap the tongue tip forward against the ridge, once, quickly. For ড়, curl the tongue back until the underside almost touches the roof, then flick it forward as you release. If it sounds a little like the middle of American *ladder*, you are close.
Now say these
Slowly first. Speed only after three faultless repetitions.
- বড় বাড়ির ছোট দরজা, রড় ধরে রানু দাঁড়ায়।The small door of the big house; Ranu stands holding the rod.
- পাড়ার রাস্তা ভাঙা, গাড়ি ধীরে চলে।The neighbourhood road is broken, so the car moves slowly.
- শাড়ি পরে রীতা বাড়ি ফেরে।Wearing a sari, Rita returns home.
- কড়া রোদে বড় বড় গাছ দাঁড়িয়ে।Big trees stand in the harsh sun.
- রাত্রে পাড়ায় বৃষ্টি পড়ে।At night, rain falls in the neighbourhood.
The pair that goes wrong
Saying বারি for বাড়ি.বাড়ি (baRi) = house; বারি (bari) = water, and it is a much rarer word.House is one of the first words a learner needs, and using the wrong R turns it into a word almost nobody says.