Learning Worksheets Phonics Letter R sound
Free printable PDF · beginning sounds · ages 3–5
Letter R Sound Worksheet: Beginning Sound /r/ (Free PDF)
Rabbit, rainbow, robot and rocket: /r/ is a growly sound that takes time to master, so lots of listening practice helps.
The R worksheet at a glance
- Section 1: say /r/ and trace the letter in capital and small form.
- Section 2: find the 6 /r/ pictures (rainbow, robot, rocket, ring, rhino and radio) among 12.
- Section 3: picture-to-sound matching for four first sounds.
- Answer key: picture names, answers and quick tips.
Mouth position for /r/
Pull your tongue back a little without touching the roof of your mouth, round your lips slightly and growl softly: /rrr/, like a friendly tiger.
Ways to practise the /r/ sound
Pretend to be a car revving its engine: rrr-rrr! Then say r words with an extra-long start: rrrabbit, rrrocket. Ask your child to race their toy car forward each time they hear /r/. Do the worksheet together, and do not worry if your child’s own /r/ sounds more like /w/ for now.
Extra /r/ words
Rat, red, rug, run, rip, rain, river, rabbit.
Tricky bits
Saying /w/ for /r/ (“wabbit” for rabbit) is extremely common, and many children only master /r/ at 6 or 7. That does not stop them from hearing it, which is what this page practises.
Game: Rocket launch
Crouch down together. Count down from five, then say a word. If it starts with /r/, blast off and jump high. If not, the rocket stays on the ground.
Little and often
Rain, roads and running: there are lots of chances to growl a friendly /r/ outside.
A silly sentence to try
Red robots race round the rainbow.
Letter r handwriting
Handwriting pages for this letter: R uppercase · r lowercase · r cursive.
Keep going
Carry on with letter s, then letter t. Later, r joins other letters in r-blends like tr and fr.
Letter R sound questions
My child says w for r. Should I worry?
It is normal for young children, and the /r/ sound often comes in at 6 or 7. Ask a speech professional if you are concerned or if your child is older.
Can a child hear /r/ even if they cannot say it?
Yes. Most children who say “wabbit” still know it is rabbit. Listening activities like this one are fine at any stage.
More answers in the phonics FAQ.
More Letter Sound Worksheets
Also try: CVC words · sight words · alphabet tracing