Hey, Spanish lovers! Are you ready to roll on to Spanish words that begin with R? The letter “R” is a superstar in Spanish — we’re talking trilling rápido or cozy rosa — but combining both sounds is a bit of a tongue twister.
We’ve combed the best sources out there—think SpanishVIP, Effortless Conversations, BaseLang—and more to scour up every one of the must-have “R” words, over 150+ and counting!
From ratón to nibble your cheese to reír with amigos, this guide’s got meanings, pronunciations, examples and tips for nailing that famous R roll.
These words will supercharge your Spanish fluency, whether you’re a newbie or a pro. Let’s explore the rhythmic world behind ”R”! Spanish words that start with R.
Why “R” Rocks in Spanish
“R” is the 18th letter of the Spanish alphabet, and it’s kind of a big deal. It has two sounds: a soft tap (as in rosa, ROH-sah) and a full trill (as in rápido, RRAH-pee-doh).
That trill — produced by vibrating the tongue against the roof of the mouth — is distinctive but difficult for outsiders.
Why learn “R” words? They’re all around us: actions, colors, nature, whatever. And if so, you’re halfway to sounding like a local. Let’s get rolling!
150+ Spanish Words That Start With R
Here’s every key “R” word we’ve found, in a table for easy browsing. Meanings, pronunciations (soft R or trilled RR noted), and vibes included.
| Spanish Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation | Vibe Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| rabia | Anger | RRAH-bee-ah | Fiery feels. |
| ración | Portion | rah-SYOHN | Food share. |
| radiador | Radiator | rrah-dee-ah-DOR | Heat hero. |
| radio | Radio | RRAH-dee-oh | Tune in! |
| radiografía | X-ray | rrah-dee-oh-grah-FEE-ah | Inside peek. |
| radiante | Radiant | rrah-dee-AHN-teh | Glow goals. |
| raíz | Root | rrah-EES | Grounded base. |
| rallar | To grate | rrah-YAHR | Cheese shredder. |
| rama | Branch | RRAH-mah | Tree arm. |
| ramo | Bouquet | RRAH-moh | Flower bunch. |
| rampa | Ramp | RRAH-m-pah | Slope star. |
| rana | Frog | RRAH-nah | Hoppy pal. |
| rancho | Ranch | RRAHN-choh | Country life. |
| rango | Range | RRAHN-goh | Scope king. |
| rápidamente | Quickly | rrah-pee-dah-MEN-teh | Speed mode. |
| rápido | Fast | RRAH-pee-doh | Zoom zoom! |
| raro | Rare/strange | RRAH-roh | Oddball charm. |
| raramente | Rarely | rrah-rah-MEN-teh | Not often. |
| rasgar | To tear | rrahs-GAHR | Rip it! |
| rasguñar | To scratch | rrahs-goo-NYAHR | Claw mark. |
| raso | Satin/plain | RRAH-soh | Smooth or simple. |
| rastro | Trail/trace | RRAHS-troh | Pathfinder. |
| rastrojo | Stubble/residue | rrahs-TROH-hoh | Field leftovers. |
| ratón | Mouse | rrah-TOHN | Tiny nibbler. |
| rato | While/moment | RRAH-toh | Quick time. |
| rayo | Ray/lightning | RRAH-yoh | Flash power. |
| razón | Reason | rrah-SOHN | Brain juice. |
| real | Real/royal | rreh-AHL | True or regal. |
| realmente | Really | rreh-ahl-MEN-teh | For real! |
| rebajar | To lower | rreh-bah-HAHR | Drop it down. |
| rebelde | Rebel | rreh-BEL-deh | Rule breaker. |
| rebotar | To bounce | rreh-boh-TAHR | Boing boing! |
| rebosar | To overflow | rreh-boh-SAHR | Spill over. |
| rechazar | To reject | rreh-chah-SAHR | Nope out. |
| recado | Message/errand | reh-KAH-doh | Note or task. |
| recámara | Bedroom | reh-KAH-mah-rah | Sleep zone. |
| receta | Recipe | reh-SEH-tah | Cook guide. |
| recién | Recently/just | reh-SYEN | Fresh off! |
| reciente | Recent | reh-SYEN-teh | New news. |
| reclamar | To claim | reh-klah-MAHR | Mine now! |
| recoger | To pick up | reh-koh-HEHR | Grab it. |
| reconocer | To recognize | reh-koh-noh-SEHR | Know ya! |
| recordar | To remember | reh-kor-DAHR | Mind flash. |
| rectángulo | Rectangle | rek-TAHN-goo-loh | Shape star. |
| recto | Straight | REK-toh | No curves. |
| red | Network | RED | Web vibe. |
| reducir | To reduce | reh-doo-SEER | Shrink it. |
| reflejo | Reflection | reh-FLEH-hoh | Mirror magic. |
| refrescar | To refresh | reh-fres-KAHR | Cool boost. |
| regar | To water/irrigate | reh-GAHR | Wet plants. |
| regalo | Gift | reh-GAH-loh | Present joy. |
| regatear | To haggle | reh-gah-teh-AHR | Deal dance. |
| región | Region | reh-HEE-ohn | Land patch. |
| registro | Record | reh-HEES-troh | Log it. |
| regresar | To return | reh-greh-SAHR | Back again. |
| reina | Queen | RRAY-nah | Royal lady. |
| reír | To laugh | rreh-EER | Giggle time. |
| reja | Grate/gate | RREH-hah | Bars up. |
| relación | Relationship | reh-lah-SYOHN | Bond goals. |
| relámpago | Lightning | reh-LAHM-pah-goh | Sky zap. |
| relajado | Relaxed | reh-lah-HAH-doh | Chill mode. |
| relativo | Relative | reh-lah-TEE-voh | Fam or sorta. |
| relevante | Relevant | reh-leh-VAHN-teh | Matters now. |
| religión | Religion | reh-lee-HEE-ohn | Faith path. |
| religioso | Religious | reh-lee-HEE-oh-soh | Holy vibes. |
| relleno | Filling | reh-YEH-noh | Stuff inside. |
| remar | To row | reh-MAHR | Paddle on. |
| remedio | Remedy | reh-MEH-dee-oh | Fixer-upper. |
| remolacha | Beet | reh-moh-LAH-chah | Red root. |
| remoto | Remote | reh-MOH-toh | Far off. |
| rencor | Resentment | rren-KOR | Grudge hold. |
| rendir | To yield | rren-DEER | Give in. |
| rendirse | To surrender | rren-DEER-seh | Wave the flag. |
| repente | Sudden | reh-PEN-teh | Quick hit. |
| repartir | To distribute | reh-par-TEER | Share out. |
| repetir | To repeat | reh-peh-TEER | Do again. |
| reposo | Rest | reh-POH-soh | Nap time. |
| reptil | Reptile | rrep-TEEL | Scaly pal. |
| resbaloso | Slippery | res-bah-LOH-soh | Slide risk. |
| rescatar | To rescue | res-kah-TAHR | Save the day. |
| resfriado | Cold (illness) | res-free-AH-doh | Sniffle season. |
| resolver | To solve | reh-sol-VEHR | Fix it! |
| respirar | To breathe | res-pee-RAHR | Air in. |
| resplandor | Glow | res-plan-DOR | Shine on. |
| respuesta | Answer | res-PWES-tah | Reply ready. |
| restar | To subtract | res-TAHR | Take away. |
| retirar | To remove | reh-tee-RAHR | Pull out. |
| reto | Challenge | RREH-toh | Dare ya! |
| retoño | Sprout | reh-TOH-nyoh | Baby plant. |
| retrasar | To delay | reh-trah-SAHR | Hold up. |
| reunión | Meeting | reh-oo-NYOHN | Group up. |
| revisar | To review | reh-vee-SAHR | Check it. |
| revés | Reverse | reh-VES | Flip side. |
| revolución | Revolution | reh-voh-loo-SYOHN | Big change. |
| revolver | To stir/revolver | reh-vol-VEHR | Mix or shoot. |
| rey | King | RRAY | Royal dude. |
| rezar | To pray | reh-SAHR | Soul talk. |
| rígido | Rigid | RREE-hee-doh | Stiff stuff. |
| rimar | To rhyme | rree-MAHR | Word play. |
| rincón | Corner | rreen-KOHN | Nook love. |
| río | River | RREE-oh | Water flow. |
| risa | Laughter | RREE-sah | Happy sound. |
| robar | To steal | roh-BAHR | Sneaky grab. |
| rocío | Dew | roh-SEE-oh | Morning drops. |
| rodilla | Knee | roh-DEE-yah | Bend it. |
| rodear | To surround | roh-deh-AHR | Circle up. |
| rojo | Red | ROH-hoh | Bold color. |
| rollo | Roll | ROH-yoh | Wrap it. |
| romántico | Romantic | roh-MAHN-tee-koh | Love vibes. |
| romper | To break | ROHM-per | Smash it. |
| roncar | To snore | rohn-KAHR | Sleep buzz. |
| ronda | Round | ROHN-dah | Loop time. |
| ropa | Clothes | ROH-pah | Style on. |
| rosa | Rose/pink | ROH-sah | Flower power. |
| rosado | Pink | roh-SAH-doh | Soft hue. |
| rostro | Face | ROH-stroh | Your mug. |
| rotación | Rotation | roh-tah-SYOHN | Spin cycle. |
| rotar | To rotate | roh-TAHR | Turn it. |
| rotundo | Resounding | roh-TOON-doh | Loud yes. |
| rueda | Wheel | RWEH-dah | Roll on. |
| ruego | Plea | RWEH-goh | Begging vibe. |
| rugir | To roar | roo-HEER | Lion call. |
| ruidoso | Noisy | rwee-DOH-soh | Loud life. |
| ruido | Noise | RWEH-doh | Sound blast. |
| ruina | Ruin | RWEH-nah | Broke down. |
| ruptura | Breakup | ROOP-too-rah | Split city. |
| rural | Rural | roo-RAHL | Country calm. |
| ruso | Russian | ROO-soh | Far east. |
| ruta | Route | ROO-tah | Path ahead. |
| rubio | Blonde | ROO-bee-oh | Light locks. |
Pronunciation 101: Rolling Your “R”s Like a Pro
“R” in Spanish has two flavors:
- Soft R (Tap): A quick tongue tap, like in rosa (ROH-sah) or caro (KAH-roh)—similar to the “tt” in “butter.”
- Trilled R (RR): A full roll, like in rápido (RRAH-pee-doh) or perro (PEH-rroh)—vibrate that tongue!
- How-To: Place your tongue tip behind your upper teeth, push air, and let it flutter. Practice with río (RREE-oh) or risa (RREE-sah).
- Rule: Trill it at the start (real, RREH-ahl) or with “rr” (carro, KAH-rroh); tap it elsewhere (cara, KAH-rah).
Real-Life Examples: “R” in Action
Try these sentences to flex your “R”s:
- Rápido: “Corre rápido, el río sube.”
(“Run fast, the river’s rising.”) - Ratón: “El ratón robó mi regalo.”
(“The mouse stole my gift.”) - Rojo: “Mi camisa roja es ruidosa.”
(“My red shirt is loud.”) - Risa: “Su risa me hace reír.”
(“Her laughter makes me laugh.”) - Ruta: “La ruta al rincón es rural.”
(“The route to the corner is rural.”) - Reina: “La reina lleva una rosa.”
(“The queen wears a rose.”) - Recordar: “Recordar el reto es rico.”
(“Remembering the challenge is rewarding.”) - Ruido: “El ruido del rastro me despertó.”
(“The noise from the trail woke me.”) - Romper: “No rompas la rueda, por favor.”
(“Don’t break the wheel, please.”) - Regalo: “Mi regalo es un reloj ruso.”
(“My gift is a Russian clock.”)
Bonus “R” Gems and Fun Facts
- rabioso – Furious (rrah-BYOH-soh)
- ramificación – Branching (rrah-mee-fee-kah-SYOHN)
- retórica – Rhetoric (reh-TOH-ree-kah)
- Fun Fact: The Spanish “R” evolved from Latin’s trilled “R”—that roll’s been rocking since Roman times!
Memorize Like a Champ: “R” Hacks
- Group ‘Em: Colors (rojo, rosa), actions (reír, romper), nature (río, rana).
- Say It: “Rápido, el ratón roba mi rosa.”
- Practice: Trill with rápido, tap with caro—mix it up!
Why “R” Rules: Spanish Soul
“R” words are Spanish staples—risa lights up chats, rápido keeps pace, río flows through culture. They’re key from Spain’s reyes to Latin America’s ranchos. Learn these, and you’re rolling with the best.
More juice? Check the California Department of Education’s English-Spanish Glossary for extra cred—it’s a learner’s treasure!
In Closing: You’re an “R” Rockstar!
You just got 150+ Spanish words that begin with R, from rabia to ruta, in one huge mega guide. They’re essential, lively and your key to fluency. Start rolling those “R”s, and your Spanish will skyrocket. What’s your fave “R” word? Drop it down below, and let’s keep the vibe alive!
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