America's R Isn't Dutch's R

Depending on the region, Dutch R might involve a tongue tap, a trill, or a sound made further back in the throat, but none of these match the American English R, which is made by curling the tongue tip slightly upward and back, or bunching the tongue up in the middle of the mouth, without any contact or throat friction at all. Carrying a Dutch-style R into English words like 'red,' 'car,' or 'very' can add a rough or throaty quality that native listeners quickly notice as non-native, even when every other sound is accurate. Try this: say 'red' slowly, and consciously relax your throat completely while curling your tongue tip up and back, checking that it never touches anywhere in your mouth. Practice 'red, car, very, right' this way, aiming for a smooth, continuous glide rather than any tap, trill, or throat sound. This one adjustment can noticeably soften your overall American English sound.