How to pronounce the TH sound: θ and ð, step by step

Short answer: English has two TH sounds. Both are made with the tip of the tongue lightly touching the back of the upper front teeth, or just between the teeth, while air flows over it. For the voiceless TH, /θ/ as in think, you only blow air; for the voiced TH, /ð/ as in this, you add your voice, so you feel a buzz. The most common mistake is replacing TH with S, T, F or D.

The TH sound is one of the most challenging sounds for non-native speakers of English to master. Learning how to place your tongue correctly can be tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it'll be much easier to produce the sound. There's a short video lesson at the end of this page.

The two TH sounds: θ and ð

The spelling doesn't tell you which one to use: th in think and th in this look the same. As a rough guide, the little everyday words (the, this, that, they, there, then, though) use the voiced /ð/, and so do most words with TH between vowels (mother, other, weather). Nouns and adjectives more often use the voiceless /θ/ (thing, three, health, path).

How to pronounce TH, step by step

1. Put the tip of your tongue on the back of your upper front teeth, or just between your teeth. Keep the tongue flat and relaxed.
2. Blow air gently between the tongue and the teeth. You should hear a soft rushing sound, softer and lower than S. That's /θ/.
3. Now turn your voice on while keeping the same position. If you put your fingers on your throat, you'll feel a buzz. That's /ð/.
4. Keep the tongue on the teeth for the whole sound. If it presses against the ridge behind the teeth, you get T or D; if it pulls back, you get S or Z.
5. Say slow words first: think, thank, thin, then this, that, then. Speed up only when the position feels natural.

A mirror helps: check that your tongue touches your teeth. If you put it between them, you'll see the tip.

Voiceless TH: /θ/

[θ] is a voiceless dental fricative: no voice, just air. Gently place the front of your tongue on your upper teeth, keeping it flat, and let the air pass through the small openings between your tongue and teeth. If done correctly, you hear a soft, rushing [θ], lower in pitch than the hissing [s]. Hold a hand in front of your mouth and you'll feel the airstream.

Voiced TH: /ð/

[ð] is a voiced dental fricative. Use the same position, but vibrate your vocal cords while you gently guide the air between your tongue and teeth. You'll feel the vibration in your throat and even your chest. If done correctly, you hear a soft, buzzing [ð] that is easy to tell apart from the voiceless [θ].

TH sound words

How to pronounce TH at the end of a word

At the end of a word, TH is short and easy to swallow, so learners often drop it or turn it into F or S: bath becomes "baf", month becomes "mons". Keep the tongue on the teeth until the sound has finished, and don't add a vowel after it. Clusters like months, sixth and fifths are hard even for native speakers, which is why they appear in our list of hard words to pronounce.

TH minimal pairs

Minimal pairs are two words that differ only in one sound. Saying them side by side is the fastest way to check your TH:

The full set, with IPA and practice sentences, is in minimal pairs.

Common TH mistakes by first language

In some accents of English these are normal features, not mistakes: Irish English often uses a soft T and D for TH, and London English often uses F and V. If you're learning General American or British RP, though, the dental TH is expected.

TH in American and British English

Both accents use the same two TH sounds. Speakers differ a little in where they put the tongue: some put the tip between the teeth, others just behind the upper teeth, and both sound right. What matters is that the tongue touches the teeth and the air flows over it.

Tips for improving your American accent

If you're looking to improve your American accent, there are a few things you can do to help yourself. First, it's essential to know the sounds that make up the English language. Take some time to familiarize yourself with vowel and consonant sounds and how they're pronounced in American English. Next, work on your pronunciation and practice speaking slowly and clearly. It can also be helpful to listen to native English speakers and mimic their pronunciation. Finally, don't be afraid to make mistakes - everyone makes them, and it's all part of the learning process!

For the other sounds of the accent, the R, the soft T and the vowels, follow our American accent training plan. You can also try the Accent Reduction Challenge, an English pronunciation course in the Vocal Image app: you can practice every sound in American English and master your accent. TH is also behind many of the hardest words to pronounce, such as months, sixth and clothes; for other accents, see our guide to English accents.

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Why the TH sound matters

The TH sound is one of the most distinctive sounds of English, and one of the hardest for learners, because very few languages have it. Getting it wrong can change the meaning of a word (think and sink, three and tree), and even when it doesn't, it's one of the first things listeners notice in a foreign accent. It also appears in the most frequent words of the language: the, this, that, they, there.

For more practice, try the TH tongue twisters and watch our YouTube series with a coach.

Conclusion

The TH sound is one of the most difficult for non-native English speakers to master. However, learning to speak with an American accent is possible by following some simple tips and practicing regularly. With a little effort, you'll make TH sound natural in no time.

Once you've practiced these sounds, take our free accent test to hear how close your American accent really is.

Sources

• Wikipedia — Voiceless dental fricative and voiced dental fricative