r / rr

Single R and Double Rr

Level 1

A single r between vowels is a light tap, like the tt in American English butter. A double rr is a strong roll. So ere means also, but erre means to burn.

How It Works

Between vowels, the spelling tells you which sound to use:

  • single r is a tap: ere (also), gora (up), ura (the water)
  • double rr is a roll: erre (to burn), gorra (the deaf one), ederra (the beautiful one)

Make both sounds with the tip of the tongue behind the upper teeth. Euskaltzaindia's pronunciation guide asks speakers to avoid the French r made in the throat.

At the end of a word, r is always written single: eder (beautiful), zer (what). When an ending that starts with a vowel is added, most of these words switch to rr: eder becomes ederra. A few common words keep the tap, such as ur (water), which becomes ura. See words ending in -r.

At the start of a word, older borrowed words gained a vowel: errege (king), Errusia (Russia), arrosa (rose), irratia (the radio). Very recent borrowings like radar and robot keep their r. See spelling loanwords.

Examples (5)

  1. Ni ere bai.

    Me too.

    Word by Word: I also yes.

    Ere (also) has a single tapped r.

  2. Ogia erre da.

    The bread has burned.

    Word by Word: Bread-the burned is.

    Erre (to burn) has a rolled rr.

  3. Etxe ederra da.

    It is a beautiful house.

    Word by Word: House beautiful-the is.

    When -a is added to eder, the r doubles: ederra.

  4. Ura edan dut.

    I have drunk the water.

    Word by Word: Water-the drunk I-have.

    Ur (water) is one of the few words that keeps a tap: ura.

  5. Errege eta erregina Erroman daude.

    The king and queen are in Rome.

    Word by Word: King and queen Rome-in are.

    Older loanwords add e- in front of r: errege, erregina, Erroma.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a single r where the word needs rr.

    Etxe edera da.
    Etxe ederra da.

    When -a is added to eder, the r doubles and is rolled: ederra.

  • Writing rr in ere.

    Ni erre bai.
    Ni ere bai.

    Erre means to burn. The word for also is ere, with a single tapped r.

  • Starting an older loanword with r.

    Roman bizi naiz.
    Erroman bizi naiz.

    Rome is Erroma in Basque, with e- in front, so in Rome is Erroman.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

r / rrLevel 1Single R and Double Rr

Learn This First

The r and rr spellings build on the alphabet and distinguish the tap and trill.