Which IPA symbol represents a voiced alveolar trill?

• A. /f/
• B. /ɾ/
• C. /l/
• D. /r/

Answer: (D)

A voiced alveolar trill involves the tongue tip vibrating rapidly against the alveolar ridge while the vocal folds are vibrating. In the IPA, this sound is represented by /r/. It’s the rolled or fluttering “r” you hear in languages like Spanish or Italian, produced as multiple quick pulses rather than a single contact.

The other symbols describe different sounds. /f/ is a voiceless labiodental fricative, made with the lower lip against the upper teeth, not at the alveolar ridge and without the rapid tongue vibrations. /ɾ/ is a voiced alveolar tap—one quick flick of the tongue against the alveolar ridge, not a sustained trill. /l/ is a voiced alveolar lateral approximant, where air flows around the sides of the tongue, again not a trill.

So the symbol for a voiced alveolar trill is /r/.