l, r or n? How to tell /l/, /r/ and /n/ apart
Short answer: Three consonants are often mixed up at the start and end of words: /l/ in light, /r/ in right and /n/ in night. For /l/ the tongue tip touches behind the top teeth. For /n/ the tongue is also up, but the sound goes through the nose. For /r/ the tongue pulls back and touches nothing.
▶ Open the sound card Practice →
At a glance
| Sound | Tongue | Air | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| /l/ | tip touches behind top teeth | flows around the sides | light, lip |
| /r/ | pulled back, no contact | flows over the tongue | right, rip |
| /n/ | tip touches behind top teeth | goes through the nose | night, nip |
How to make the sound
- For /l/, touch the tongue tip behind the top teeth and let air pass at the sides.
- For /n/, touch the same place and let air go through your nose. Pinch your nose to check.
- For /r/, curl the tongue back. Nothing touches.
- Practice the trio: light – right – night.
Pairs to practice
| /l/ | /r/ | /n/ |
|---|---|---|
| light | right | night |
| lip | rip | nip |
| low | row | no |
Examples in sentences
- light
l = /l/: /laɪt/. - right
r = /r/: /raɪt/. - night
n = /n/: /naɪt/. - lip
l = /l/: /lɪp/. - rip
r = /r/: /rɪp/. - nip
n = /n/: /nɪp/.
Common problems
- Replacing /r/ with /l/: right becomes light. Pull the tongue back and do not touch.
- Replacing /l/ with /n/: light becomes night. For /l/, air goes around the tongue, not the nose.
- Dropping final /l/ and /n/: ball and ban need a clear final sound.
For Vietnamese speakers
- Vietnamese has /l/ and /n/, but English /r/ is different. Do not use a rolled or tapped r.
- Final /l/ in English is “dark” (ball). Keep the tongue tip up.
Check yourself
- Does the tongue touch for /r/?
Show the answer
No. It pulls back.
- Which sound goes through the nose?
Show the answer
/n/ Pinch your nose to feel it.
- Which word starts with /l/?
Show the answer
light Tongue touches behind top teeth.
Questions
Why is /r/ hard?
The tongue shape is new, and the tongue must not touch the mouth.
How do I check /n/?
Pinch your nose while you say it. The sound should change if it is not nasal.
Do I need to hear the difference first?
Yes. Listen to light and right several times before you try to say them.
More lessons in this part
- sh or s? ship, sip
- Short i or long ee? ship, sheep
- th, s or d? think, sink, they, day
- ch, sh or j? chip, ship, jam
- a, e or u? bag, beg, bug
Part of the 👄 Pronunciation tool: Sound Contrast & Articulation. See also the English pronunciation guide. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.
Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30