Today, we’re going to explore a consonant pair which many English language students find tricky. Yes, we need to talk about the letters ‘th’! These two letters together can either sound like / θ / (voiceless) or / ð / (voiced).
Can you think of some words that contain / θ / ? What about words containing / ð / ?
If you’re not sure, here are some examples:
The next step is trying to pronounce the words above! Let’s start with thinking about how the sound is made.
Put the tip of your tongue lightly between your teeth and blow gently. It always helps to look at your mouth in a mirror when you’re practising sounds, even if you do feel a bit silly at first.
This is how it should look:
(Image from BBC Learning English)
I also recommend (as always!) watching the following videos:
BBC Learning English – Voiceless Consonant - /θ/ - 'thin’, ‘throw’ & 'thumb’
BBC Learning English –Voiced Consonant - /ð/ - 'this', 'other' and 'smooth'
Are you ready to tackle all those 'th' words now? Try this sentence, just for fun:
Thea Leather’s brother is thirty-three. He has healthy teeth and is thoroughly thin.
Let me know how you get on - and of course don't hesitate to get in touch if you need any further advice or information!
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