The sounds of "th" in English
The two letters t and h in combination (th) are very common in English. They represent one of two different sounds:
the voiced dental fricative /ð/ (as in this)
the voiceless dental fricative /θ/ (as in thing)
The sound /ð/ has the following features:
- Its manner of articulation is fricative. That means the sound is produced by letting air flow through a narrow channel at the place of articulation.
- Its place of articulation is dental. That means the sound is articulated with the tip of the tongue against the back of the upper teeth.
- Its phonation is voiced. That means the vocal cords vibrate during the articulation.
Watch and practice:
More practice pronouncing these words:
this
that
these
those
then
there
their
there
than
though
thus
thy
thine
thou
thereby
therefore
The sound /θ/, has the following features:
- Its manner of articulation is also fricative. That means the sound is produced by letting air flow through a narrow channel at the place of articulation. In comparison to the voiced th, the voiceless th is pronounced by making more air flow.
- Its place of articulation is dental. However, in contrast to /ð/, the sound is pronounced with the blade of the tongue resting against the lower part of the back of the upper teeth. The tip of the tongue sticks out of the mouth slightly.
- Its phonation is voiceless. That means the sound is produced without vibrations of the vocal cords.
Watch and practice:
More practice pronouncing these words:
three
think
thin
thirst
thrift
thread
thistle
thirsty
through
throw
thug
thump
For more pronuntiation practice, visit the following links:
Introduction to The Sounds of English
Pronunciation: consonant sounds
Phonetic Chart
