PR Blend: Speech Therapy Guide, Words & Games

The /pr/ blend is written /pɹ/ in the phonetic alphabet, and most children master it by age 7. This guide covers how to make the /pr/ blend, 28 practice words split across initial and medial position, and the errors children make most often.

Example PR Blend words: pretty, problem, probably, promise (beginning); surprise, appreciate, surprised, approach (middle).

The /pr/ blend joins the /p/ and /r/ sounds — the "pr" in present, pretty, prince and print. The lips pop for the /p/ and the burst of air carries straight into the /r/.

Age of mastery:7
Sound type:Consonant blend

How to Make the PR Blend

Say "puh-rrr-esent" with a long /r/, then close the gap. The /p/ is an early, easy sound, so if the word comes out as "pwesent" the work belongs on the /r/ in isolation rather than on the blend.

IPA Symbol: /pɹ/

Most children master the /pr/ blend by age 7. Blends arrive after the sounds they are made of: the /P/ and /R/ sounds each have to be reliable on their own before the cluster will hold, which is also the order to practise them in. Two-sound blends are generally in place somewhere between ages 4 and 7, tracking the sounds inside them — the ones containing /L/ or /R/ come in later than the rest.

Common PR Blend Errors

  • Cluster reduction — producing only the /P/ sound and dropping the rest of the blend. This is by far the most common blend error.
  • Cluster reduction — producing only the /R/ sound and dropping the rest of the blend. This is by far the most common blend error.
  • Gliding — the /R/ inside the blend turning into a /W/, so the cluster keeps both sounds but loses the /R/.

PR Blend Word Lists by Position

Practice these words organized by where the /pr/ sound appears. Start with the position your child finds easiest, or open the complete PR Blend word list.

Initial PR Blend Words

/pr/ at the beginning of words

prettyproblemprobablypromisepresidentpresentproudproblemsprivateproveprotectprofessorpromisedpressure
Initial PR Blend Words— practice tips & sentences

Medial PR Blend Words

/pr/ in the middle of words

surpriseappreciatesurprisedapproachaprilimpressedimpressionoperaimpressiverepresenttemperatureappropriateapproveimpress
Medial PR Blend Words— practice tips & sentences
Practice these words with our games

More PR Blend Word Lists & Resources

All PR Blend Words

Complete 28-word list across every position

Initial PR Blend Words

14 words with practice tips

Medial PR Blend Words

14 words with practice tips

Speech Sound Development Chart

What age each speech sound should appear

All Speech Sounds

Guides for every sound we cover

Related Sounds

/R/

R Sound

View guide

/P/

P Sound

View guide

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