Double RR in Spanish 🇪🇸: How to roll it, say it and master it like a pro! 🌀🐶

🎙️ How do you say 'double RR' in Spanish?

In Spanish, the double RR is called doble erre (pronounced doh-bleh EH-rreh). Yep, that strong trill is what gives Spanish its musical rhythm. 🎶

Fun fact: It’s not considered a separate letter in the Spanish alphabet, but it totally sounds like one! 😄

🔁 What’s the rule for rolling the R in Spanish?

Right, here comes the fun (and tricky) part:

👅 A single R (like in pero) = soft tap of the tongue 

💥 A double RR (like in perro) = strong roll or trill 

👉 BUT WAIT — even a single 'r' can sound like double if it’s at the beginning of a word (like ropa) or after l, n, or s (like enredo). Mind blown, right? 🤯 

🗣️ How to pronounce the double RR in Spanish

The double RR is called an alveolar trill — sounds fancy, eh? 😎 But don’t worry, you don’t need a PhD in phonetics. Here’s how to master it:

🎯 Top tips to roll your R like a native:

🔹 Place your tongue near the roof of your mouth, just behind your front teeth 🦷

🔹 Let the air flow push your relaxed tongue so it vibrates 🌬️

🔹 Start slow — try saying 'erre' repeatedly:
erre con erre, cigarro... 🎵

🧠 Remember: It’s all about practice. And yes, you can do it!

🧾 Double RR in Spanish words: Some juicy examples

Let’s take a look at some common Spanish words with that spicy RR 🔥:

🐕 perro – dog 

🚗 carro – car 

🎸 guitarra – guitar 

🌍 tierra – earth 

🦊 zorro – fox 

🚄 ferrocarril – railway 

🧽 borrar – to erase 

🏃 corre – he/she runs 

🧐 Be careful — swapping a single R for a double one changes the word completely:

pero (but) vs perro (dog)

caro (expensive) vs carro (car)

Not quite the same thing, huh? 😅

✍️ Examples of double RR in full Spanish sentences

Let’s see those double Rs in action! 💬

🐕🏃‍♂️ Mi perro corre por el parque. 
My dog runs through the park.

🎸🛍️ Compré una guitarra en la tienda. 
I bought a guitar at the shop.

🚄⚡El ferrocarril es muy rápido.
The railway is very fast.

📱🗑️ Voy a borrar el mensaje. 
I'm going to erase the message.

🗯️ Top tip: Read them out loud and exaggerate the RR — it’s the best way to train your tongue! 💪👅 

🎤 BONUS: Spanish tongue twister with double RR

Feeling brave? Try this classic Spanish tongue twister — it's a rite of passage! 🎓💥

Erre con erre, cigarro,
Erre con erre, barril.
Rápido ruedan los carros, rápido
el ferrocarril. 🚂🎶

Challenge your mates and see who nails it first! 😜

🎯 Final thoughts: Make peace with the RR 😄

Learning how to pronounce the double RR in Spanish isn’t just about sounding cool (though that’s a bonus 😎). It’s about understanding the rhythm of the language, avoiding embarrassing mix-ups (perro vs pero, anyone?), and feeling more confident when you speak.

🎧 Top tip: Listen to Spanish music, mimic native speakers, and don’t be afraid to sound silly at first — it’s part of the fun!

You’ve got this 💪🔥 ¡Vamos!

🎥 Practice with our Instagram video 📱

We’ve prepared a fun Instagram video with a tongue twister just for you! 😄🎬 Head over to our Instagram page and try repeating the tongue twister along with us. Tag us in your attempt or share it in your stories — we’d love to see you practising! 💪💬🎉

❓ We’d love to hear from you!

What’s your favourite Spanish word or phrase to practice pronunciation with?

Drop it in the comments below! 💬👇