To practice the English “th” sound, place the tongue tip lightly between the teeth or just behind the upper teeth, let air pass through the narrow opening, and avoid replacing the sound with /t/, /s/, or /d/. English spelling “th” commonly represents two sounds: voiceless /θ/ in “thin” and voiced /ð/ in “this.” The airflow position is similar; vocal-fold vibration distinguishes them.
Find the tongue position without biting
Look in a mirror and let the tongue tip appear slightly between the front teeth. Keep the jaw relaxed. The tongue should make a narrow passage for air, not press hard enough to stop it. For /θ/, as in “thin,” send air through without vibrating the vocal folds. You should hear a soft, unvoiced friction.
For /ð/, as in “this,” keep roughly the same tongue position and add voice. Rest a hand lightly on your throat: the voiced version should create vibration. This tactile check is only a cue; speakers may produce the sounds with the tongue tip at or just behind the teeth, and individual articulation varies. The IPA chart provides symbols for these two consonants, while a phonetic description focuses on how they are produced. [1]
Separate the two versions
Start with a quiet /θ/ and sustain it for a second: “θθθ.” Then add voicing without changing the tongue’s location: “ððð.” Move slowly between them—“θ…ð…θ…ð”—and notice whether the throat vibration switches while the airflow continues. If the tongue pulls back and the sound becomes /s/ or /z/, reset gently.
Now attach a vowel: “θa, ða,” then “θee, ðee.” These are practice syllables, not English words. Keep the consonant brief and let the vowel begin immediately after it. The goal is a clear transition, not a dramatic tongue display. A small amount of tongue between the teeth is often enough.
Use words that make the contrast audible
Practice /θ/ in “thin,” “think,” and “bath,” and /ð/ in “this,” “those,” and “breathe.” The spelling stays the same, but the sound differs. Do not assume every letter sequence or every language uses the same sound; this guide concerns common English pronunciations of “th.”
For a focused contrast, alternate the invented practice frames “thin paper” and “this paper.” Say each phrase slowly once, then at an ordinary conversational pace. Listen for the tongue-to-air sound at the start of the first word. If it turns into “tin” or “dis,” pause and restore the narrow airflow. Recording a single repetition can help you notice whether the consonant is present without requiring you to judge your whole accent.
A short exercise for connected speech
Use this original three-line drill: “Three threads through the cloth. / Those threads turn in the wind. / The thin cloth folds.” Read it first as a list, leaving a small pause at each word boundary. Then read it as a sentence, linking the words smoothly while keeping the two “th” sounds distinct. The British Council’s pronunciation resource describes connected speech as a continuous stream in which sounds link and some words become less prominent. [2] The drill therefore gives you a chance to preserve a target consonant while speaking in a connected phrase.
Mark each /θ/ in one color and each /ð/ in another. Read the lines once while looking at the marks, once while looking away, and once at a natural pace. If the voiced sound feels difficult, briefly touch your throat on “those”; if /θ/ turns into /s/, slow down and bring the tongue tip forward. Then stop before repetition turns into strain.
Check for clarity in your own words
Make a sentence you would genuinely use, such as “I think those are the right three pages.” Underline the “th” words and label each sound /θ/ or /ð/. Say it slowly, then repeat it at your normal pace. The useful next step is not to perfect a drill in isolation; it is to carry the sound into a phrase where you need it.
If a listener mishears a particular word, ask which word they heard and try a small adjustment to tongue placement or voicing. English speakers themselves vary in detail, and understanding depends on the word and context as well as the consonant. Keep the practice tied to a specific word or listening goal rather than treating one exact tongue shape as the only acceptable version.
