LISTEN
listen_to_-th-.mp3
File Size: 147 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
/θ/…/θ/…/θ/…/θ/…
​
thank...bath...nothing...toothpaste

WHAT IS IT?
Pronunciation:
​The sound /θ/ is a voiceless, dental, fricative consonant.
  • Touch the back of your upper teeth with the tip of your tongue.
  • Breathe out, while moving your tongue sharply downward, and let air flow past your tongue and out of your mouth.
  • Your vocal cords should not vibrate.
 
The sound /θ/ can be in these consonant clusters:​
  • Beginning of a Syllable
  • End of a Syllable
<
>
th_initial_clusters.mp3
File Size: 77 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
/θr/ (“thr”) - throw 
/θw/ (“thw”) - thwart
th_final_clusters.mp3
File Size: 465 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
/sθs/ (“ths”) - breaths
/lθ/ (“lth”) - filth
/lθs/ (“lths”) - health's
/rθ/ (“rth”) - earth
/rθs/ (“rths”) - fourths
/rmθ/ (“rmth”)​ - warmth
/nθ/ (“nth”)  - tenth
/nθs/ (“nths”) ​ - ninths
​​/ŋθ/ (“ngth”) - strength
​/ŋθs/ (“ngths”) - lengths
/tθ/ (“th”) - eighth
​/tθs/ (“ths”) - eighths
​/dθ/ (“dth”) - hundredth
/dθs/ (“dths”) - widths
/ndθ/ (“dth”) - thousandth
/ndθs/ (“dths”) - thousandths
​/fθ/ ("fth") - fifth
/fθs/ ("fths") - fifths
/lfθ/ ("fth") - twelfth
/lfθs/ ("fths") - twelfths
/ksθ/ ("xth") - sixth
/ksθs/ ("xths") - sixths ​​​

Spelling:
  • "th" - thin, cloth
Note: the sound /ð/ (as in “the”, “that") is also spelled "th."
 
Grammar Tip:
The sound /θ/ is used in the suffix “-th”. This suffix may turn certain adjectives into nouns.
grammar-th_1.mp3
File Size: 143 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
  • wide --> width
  • strong --> strength
  • long --> length​​​

​More importantly, the suffix “-th” also turns most cardinal numbers (four, five, six) into ordinal numbers (fourth, fifth, sixth). (Note: this may put /θ/ in a difficult consonant cluster.)
grammar-th_2.mp3
File Size: 205 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
  • five --> fifth
  • six --> sixth
  • seven --> seventh
  • eight --> eighth

COMPARE
Compare /θ/ with /ð/:
compare_th-eth_1.mp3
File Size: 108 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
/θ/.../ð/.../θ/.../ð/.../θ/.../ð/...

These are both dental fricative consonants. However, /θ/ is a voiceless consonant and /ð/ is a voiced consonant. At the end of a word, the vowel before /θ/ will be shorter than the vowel before /ð/.
​
Practice recognizing words with /θ/ and /ð/ by taking the quiz below.

​Now, compare /θ/ with /s/:
compare_th-s_1.mp3
File Size: 104 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
​/θ/.../s/.../θ/.../s/.../θ/.../s/

These are both voiceless fricative consonants. However, /θ/ is a dental consonant and /s/ is an alveolar consonant. To pronounce /s/, your tongue should rub against the hard ridge behind your upper teeth.

You can hear the difference between /θ/ and /s/ in these words.
compare_th-s_words.mp3
File Size: 392 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
1. A. thick, B. sick
2. A. theme, B. seem
3. A. thinks, B. sinks
4. A. path, B. pass
5. A. faith, B. face
6. A. plaything, B. placing

Practice recognizing words with /θ/ and /s/ by taking the quiz below.

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_with_-th-.mp3
File Size: 546 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
1. think
2. thin
3. thanks
4. three
5. thorough
6. thirsty
7. thicken
8. theater
9. throw
10. both
11. cloth
12. truth
13. worth
14. fifth
15. healthy
16. pathetic
17. birthday
18. toothpaste
19. pathway
20. anth​ropology​

​Now, practice /θ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
sentences_with_-th-__2_.mp3
File Size: 1184 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
1. thanks – thoughtful – birthday
Thanks for the thoughtful birthday gift.
2. think – threw – toothbrush
I think you threw away your toothbrush.
3. path – through – north
A bike path runs through the north side of downtown.
4. third – marathon – Thursday
He’s running his third marathon on Thursday.
5. nothing – worth - truth
Nothing is worth more than the truth.
6. thermos – with – thirsty
You should take a thermos with you in case you get thirsty.

To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:

USE IT!
​Practice the task below. Then, record yourself completing that task. Give your recording to a teacher or an English-speaking friend for feedback.

Prepare:
Look at this list of behaviors. Which ones are most important for good health?
  • Brushing your teeth
  • Avoiding thirst
  • Taking a bath everyday
  • Eating three meals every day
  • Being thankful
  • Thinking positively
  • Being thin

​Record:
​In your recording, describe the 3 most important behaviors and explain why they are important for your health.

©2018-2021, Christine Wingate