Letter R: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
R is the 18th letter of the English alphabet. It comes after Q and before S. R is a consonant. The capital (uppercase) letter is R and the small (lowercase) letter is r.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter R at a Glance
| Position | 18th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Consonant |
| Uppercase and lowercase | R r |
| Comes between | Q and S |
| Main sounds | r, r-controlled vowels |
| Strokes to write it | Capital R: 2 · small r: 1 |
How to Write Capital R and Small r
Follow the numbers: start each stroke at its numbered dot and move in the direction of the arrow. The blue top line, dashed middle line and red bottom line match the lines on handwriting paper.
Capital R (2 strokes)
- Start at the top. Draw a straight line down.
- Go back to the top. Draw a curve out to the right and back in to the middle.
- From the middle, draw a slanted line out to the bottom right.
Small r (1 stroke)
- Draw a short line from the middle line down to the bottom line.
- Go back up and make a small curve over to the right, like the start of n.
Small r is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
Common mix-up: Capital R is like P with an extra leg. Lowercase r is sometimes mixed up with n, but r stops after the small curve.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter R Tracing Sheet
Print this one-page sheet for practice at home or in class. Each row starts with a solid model letter, followed by dotted letters to trace, then empty lines to write R and r alone.
What Sound Does R Make?
- r: made by curling your tongue up without touching the roof of your mouth, with your voice switched on. Examples: rabbit, red, rain, car.
- r-controlled vowels: r changes the sound of the vowel before it. Examples: car, her, bird, corn, fur.
Practice the sound with pictures on R is for Rat, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With R
R is for Rabbit! Here are more R words:
R also appears in the middle or at the end of words: car, star, carrot, zebra, tiger.
Interesting Facts About R
- The r sound is one of the last sounds many children learn to say clearly, often between ages 5 and 7, and saying w instead of r is common for young children.
- The letter R comes from an ancient symbol for a head.
Quick Quiz: Letter R
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right before R?
Q.
What is the difference between capital P and capital R?
R has an extra slanted leg at the bottom.
Which word has an r-controlled vowel: car or cat?
Car. The r changes the sound of the a.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Hop around the room like rabbits while chanting "R is for rabbit!" Then pretend it's raining by wiggling fingers overhead like raindrops, calling out other R words along the way.
At Home
Look at a rose (real or in a picture) together while saying "R is for rose." Afterward, trace the letter R on paper, pointing out its straight line, curve, and kicking leg.
Tips
Parents: Don't worry if R still sounds a bit like W at this age (like "wabbit" for "rabbit") — R is one of the last sounds to fully develop and often isn't crisp until age 6 or 7.
Teachers: Model the R sound clearly and often in group settings, but avoid correcting a child repeatedly in front of peers — gentle, natural repetition works better than direct correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is R in the alphabet?
R is the 18th letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after Q and before S.
Is R a vowel or a consonant?
R is a consonant. All letters except the vowels A, E, I, O and U are consonants (Y can be both).
What sound does the letter R make?
R makes these sounds: r as in rabbit; r-controlled vowels as in car.
How do you write a small r?
Draw a short line from the middle line down to the bottom line. Go back up and make a small curve over to the right, like the start of n. Small r is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
What are some words that start with R?
Words that start with R include rabbit, rainbow, rocket, robot, rose, ring.
My child says "wabbit" instead of "rabbit". Is that normal?
Yes, it is very common in young children because r is one of the harder sounds. If you are worried, especially after age 7, speak to your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist.
Summary
R is the 18th letter of the alphabet and is a consonant. Its main sounds are r, r-controlled vowels. Capital R takes 2 strokes and small r takes 1. Next, learn the letter S.