How to Survive (and Actually Pronounce) the Czech Ř
If you’ve ever tried to say Ř and ended up sounding like a growling cat or a broken engine, you’ve officially joined the club. Welcome to the sound that makes even Czechs sweat.
Let’s be honest: Ř is the sound that divides the brave from the defeated. But here’s the secret nobody tells you. Even Czech kids struggle with it. And I should know, because I was one of them.
Yes. I, your Czech teacher, spent three years going to speech therapy as a child to master Ř. Every week, I sat in front of a mirror with a small stick under my tongue, repeating tři sta třicet tři stříbrných stříkaček like a tiny robot. So if you can’t say it perfectly right now you’re in excellent company.
What’s So Special About Ř?
Ř is not just a letter. It’s a personality. It’s halfway between R (as in rohlík) and Ž (as in žena).
If you say them fast together — R + Ž = Ř! — you’re already halfway there.
Try this:
Say R like you’re starting rýže (rice).
Then slowly add a little buzz, like a soft zhhh sound.
Keep your tongue close to your upper teeth — and let it vibrate.
Boom. That’s the science part done.
But What About Real Life?
Czechs use Ř all the time. In fact, it appears in some of the most Czech words possible. Here are a few examples that you’ll hear every single day in the wild:
tři piva, prosím – three beers, please (the most practical sentence you’ll ever learn)
řízek – schnitzel! (our national meal, basically)
přítel / přítelkyně – boyfriend / girlfriend (say it wrong and you might accidentally downgrade your partner to “just a friend”)
přesně tak! – exactly! (Czechs say this all the time; it’s your shortcut to sounding instantly local)
třeba – for example / maybe (a super common filler that’ll make your speech flow naturally once you nail that Ř)
Common Student Struggles (and What to Do About Them)
Problem #1: You can’t roll your R yet.
Fix: Practice a Spanish “r” or Italian “rrr” first. The rolling part is key. No roll = no Ř.
Problem #2: You overthink it.
Fix: Stop trying to control it. Ř is like a cat. The harder you chase it, the more it hides. Relax your tongue, let it vibrate naturally.
Problem #3: You can say it alone, but not in words.
Fix: Build from short to long. Start with ř-ř-ř, then tři, then tři roky, and finally tři roky na logopedii jako já! (true story)
Round 3: still no Ř. Keep going.
How to Impress (or Confuse) Czechs
Once you’ve got it, you can officially show off your Ř and every Czech will notice. Try slipping it into conversation casually:
Já už umím Ř!
Instant smiles. Maybe applause. Maybe a proud tear. But don’t be surprised if they test you with tongue twisters:
Tři sta třiatřicet stříbrných stříkaček stříkalo přes tři sta třiatřicet stříbrných střech.
If you survive that one, you win eternal Czech respect. (And maybe a beer.)
Czech Your Tongue!
If you’re ready to finally sound Czech, not stressed, check out my pronunciation course Czech Your Tongue!
It’s a fun, no-drill course that helps you master Czech rhythm, melody, and tricky sounds (yes, including Ř!) through humor, real-life examples, and a bit of linguistic magic.
You’ll learn why káva and kava are two very different mornings… and how to make Czechs say, “Wait, are you… Czech?”
So next time someone tells you that Ř is impossible, smile and say:
Řízek, tři piva, prosím.
Because if I could do it after three years of speech therapy and thousands of stříkačky you definitely can too. Na zdraví to your Czech pronunciation journey!
