Pronunciation of the Dutch r

The Dutch r can be pronounced in many ways. In Belgium most speakers use an alveolar trill, but some use a uvular fricative. In the northern Netherlands, most speakers use an alveolar trill. However, many Dutch speakers use an alveolar approximant in the coda. In the city of Leiden, the alveolar approximant can be used in both the onset and coda, and in the Hague, many speakers vocalize the r in the coda. In the southern Netherlands, many speakers use a uvular fricative or trill.

The variations of the Dutch r can be illustrated with the word rivier. The word means river. It has an r in the onset and in the coda. This word can be pronounced in a number of different ways. Here are a few:

1) alveolar trill + alveolar trill (common in the northern Netherlands)

2) alveolar trill + alveolar approximant (common in the western Netherlands)

3) alveolar approximant + alveolar approximant (common in Leiden)

4) uvular trill + alveolar approximant (common in Utrecht)

5) uvular trill + vowel (common in the Hague)

6) uvular fricative + uvular fricative (common in Ghent)

In Dutch the letter r has many pronunciations. This can be exemplified with the word rivier, a word with one r in the onset and one in the coda. The same r can be used in both positions, but many speakers use a different sound in the onset and in the coda.