Do you find it difficult to pronounce words such as think, three, this and mother? You are not alone. The English TH sound is challenging for many learners because it is produced differently from the sounds used in several other languages.

The good news is that you can improve your pronunciation by learning the correct mouth position, understanding the difference between the two TH sounds and practising them in words and sentences.

English has two main TH sounds: the voiceless sound in think and the voiced sound in this. Although they are written with the same letters, they differ in how your vocal cords work when you pronounce them.

In this guide, you will learn how to pronounce TH in English step by step, avoid common pronunciation mistakes and practise with examples that you can use in everyday conversations.

What Is the TH Sound in English?

The letters TH represent two different consonant sounds in English. Both are produced by placing the tongue near or lightly between the teeth and allowing air to pass through a narrow opening.

These sounds are represented by two symbols in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA):

• /θ/ — the voiceless TH sound, as in think and three.
• /ð/ — the voiced TH sound, as in this and mother.

The main difference is whether your vocal cords vibrate during pronunciation.

Sound	Type	Example words
/θ/	Voiceless	Think, three, thank, bath
/ð/	Voiced	This, that, they, mother

Important: The letters TH do not always represent these sounds in every English word. For example, Thomas begins with /t/, and Thailand also begins with /t/. Learning pronunciation word by word helps you recognise these exceptions.

How to Pronounce the Voiceless TH Sound /θ/

The voiceless TH sound appears in words such as think, three, thank and healthy. It is produced without vocal-cord vibration.

Step 1: Position Your Tongue Correctly

Place the tip of your tongue lightly between your upper and lower front teeth, or very close to the edge of your upper front teeth.

You do not need to push your tongue far outside your mouth. A small, comfortable movement is enough.

Keep your jaw relaxed and avoid biting your tongue.

Step 2: Push Air Gently Through the Gap

Allow air to flow between your tongue and teeth.

The sound should be a gentle, continuous airflow rather than a stop or burst.

Try producing the sound on its own:

/θ/ — /θ/ — /θ/

You should hear a soft, unvoiced sound.

Step 3: Keep Your Vocal Cords Still

Place your fingers lightly against the front of your throat.

Now pronounce /θ/ as in think. You should feel little or no vocal-cord vibration during the consonant itself.

Do not add a strong /t/ sound at the beginning. The goal is to create the continuous TH sound directly.

Step 4: Practise with Simple Words

Begin with short, familiar words:

• Think
• Thin
• Thank
• Three
• Thumb
• Thursday
• Healthy
• Nothing

Say each word slowly, focusing on the tongue position and airflow. Then repeat it at a natural speaking speed.

How to Pronounce the Voiced TH Sound /ð/

The voiced TH sound appears in words such as this, that, they, those and mother.

The tongue position is similar to /θ/, but your vocal cords vibrate while you produce the sound.

Step 1: Keep the Same Tongue Position

Place your tongue lightly between your teeth or close to the edge of your upper front teeth.

Avoid pressing your tongue too firmly against your teeth because this can block the airflow.

Step 2: Add Vocal-Cord Vibration

Keep the airflow moving and activate your voice.

You can feel the difference by placing your fingers on your throat and alternating between:

• /θ/ — as in think
• /ð/ — as in this

The second sound should involve more noticeable vocal-cord vibration.

Step 3: Practise with Common Words

Start with these examples:

• This
• That
• These
• Those
• They
• Them
• Their
• Mother
• Father
• Together

Repeat each word several times. Once you can produce the sound in isolation, practise it in short phrases such as this book, those people and my mother.

What Is the Difference Between /θ/ and /ð/?

Both sounds use a similar tongue position. The main distinction is voicing.

Feature	/θ/	/ð/
Example	Think	This
Vocal-cord vibration	No	Yes
Airflow	Continuous	Continuous
Tongue position	At or near the front teeth	At or near the front teeth
Common practice phrase	Three thin things	These are those

Try alternating between the two sounds without changing your tongue position significantly.

For example:

/θ/ → /ð/ → /θ/ → /ð/

Then practise word pairs:

• Thin — then
• Thought — though
• Teeth — teethe

These pairs are useful for pronunciation practice, although their meanings and grammatical uses differ.

Common Mistakes When Pronouncing TH in English

Many learners replace TH with a more familiar sound. This is understandable, but practising the correct tongue position can help you develop clearer pronunciation.

Mistake 1: Pronouncing TH as /t/

Some learners pronounce think as tink or three as tree.

The /t/ sound is produced by briefly blocking the airflow and releasing it. The /θ/ sound uses continuous airflow between the tongue and teeth.

How to improve: Start with a sustained /θ/ sound, then move directly into the rest of the word.

Practise:

• /θ/ + ink → think
• /θ/ + ree → three

Keep the airflow continuous as you move into the vowel.

Mistake 2: Pronouncing TH as /s/

Another common mistake is saying think with an /s/ sound.

The /s/ sound is produced with the tongue positioned farther back from the front teeth, while /θ/ uses the tongue at or near the teeth.

How to improve: Practise in front of a mirror. Check that the tip of your tongue is visible or close to the edge of your upper front teeth when producing /θ/.

Compare:

• Sink — think
• Sick — thick
• Sing — thing

Listen carefully to the difference and repeat each pair slowly.

Mistake 3: Replacing Voiced /ð/ with /d/

Some learners pronounce this as dis or they as day.

The /d/ sound involves briefly blocking airflow before releasing it. The /ð/ sound is produced with continuous airflow and vocal-cord vibration.

How to improve: Keep your tongue lightly between your teeth and maintain the airflow while using your voice.

Practise:

• This
• That
• They
• Those
• Then

Mistake 4: Placing the Tongue Too Far Outside the Mouth

You do not need to stick your tongue far out to produce TH correctly.

Excessive tongue movement can make the sound uncomfortable or unnatural.

How to improve: Use a small, controlled tongue movement. Keep the tongue relaxed and place it just at or slightly between the front teeth.

Mistake 5: Practising Only Individual Words

You may pronounce think correctly in isolation but struggle to use it naturally in conversation.

How to improve: Move from individual words to phrases, sentences and short conversations. This helps you maintain the correct pronunciation at normal speaking speed.

TH Sound at the Beginning, Middle and End of Words

The TH sound can appear in different positions within an English word. Practising all three positions helps you recognise it more reliably.

TH at the Beginning of a Word

Examples:

• Think
• Thank
• Three
• This
• That
• They

Practise saying each word slowly, then use it in a sentence.

For example: “I think that this is the right answer.”

TH in the Middle of a Word

Examples:

• Mother
• Father
• Another
• Weather
• Together
• Anything

The surrounding vowels can affect how the sound connects to the rest of the word. Focus on keeping the tongue position consistent while moving smoothly between sounds.

TH at the End of a Word

Examples:

• Bath
• Teeth
• Mouth
• Both
• Month
• With

Practise finishing the word without adding an extra vowel after the final consonant.

For example, say both rather than adding an extra syllable after the TH sound.

Remember that /θ/ and /ð/ can both occur at the ends of words. The exact pronunciation depends on the word.

A 10-Minute Daily TH Pronunciation Practice Routine

Short, regular practice is often easier to maintain than an occasional long session. Use this routine to improve your control of both TH sounds.

Minutes 1–2: Practise the Sounds Alone

Alternate between the two sounds:

• /θ/ — voiceless TH
• /ð/ — voiced TH

Use a mirror to check your tongue position and your fingers to notice vocal-cord vibration.

Minutes 3–4: Practise Individual Words

For /θ/, practise:

• Think
• Three
• Thank
• Thin
• Bath

For /ð/, practise:

• This
• That
• They
• Those
• Mother

Repeat each word slowly, then say it naturally.

Minutes 5–6: Practise Contrasting Words

Compare words that help you distinguish TH from other consonants:

• Thin — tin
• Think — sink
• Three — tree
• Then — den
• They — day

Do not rush. Focus on the physical difference between the sounds.

Minutes 7–8: Read Short Sentences Aloud

Try these sentences:

1. I think three people are coming.
2. Thank you for this information.
3. My mother and father live together.
4. They think that the weather will change.
5. Those three things belong to them.

Read each sentence slowly, then repeat it at a natural speed.

Minutes 9–10: Record and Review

Record yourself reading the sentences. Listen to the recording and check whether your TH sounds are distinct from /t/, /s/ and /d/.

Choose one word that needs improvement and practise it again.

If possible, compare your pronunciation with a reliable dictionary recording or ask a teacher for feedback.

Practical Exercises to Test Your TH Pronunciation

Use the following exercises to check whether you can recognise and produce both TH sounds.

Exercise 1: Identify the Sound

Decide whether the bold consonant represents /θ/ or /ð/.

1. think
2. this
3. three
4. they
5. mother
6. bath

Answers:

1. /θ/
2. /ð/
3. /θ/
4. /ð/
5. /ð/
6. /θ/

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Pronunciation

Which word begins with the voiced TH sound /ð/?

A. Think

B. Thank

C. Those

D. Three

Correct answer: C. Those.

The word those begins with /ð/, while the other options begin with /θ/.

Exercise 3: Practise a Short Tongue-Twister

Try this sentence:

“Three thin thinkers thought things through.”

Start slowly and focus on producing /θ/ clearly in each word. Increase your speed only when you can maintain the correct sound.

Then practise a sentence with voiced TH:

“Those three brothers are there.”

The aim is accuracy first, followed by smoother and more natural speech.

How Can You Improve Your Overall English Pronunciation?

Learning the TH sound is a useful step, but clear pronunciation involves several other skills, including vowel sounds, consonants, word stress, sentence stress and intonation.

To continue improving:

• Listen to English regularly and pay attention to how words are pronounced.
• Learn the pronunciation of new vocabulary alongside its meaning.
• Practise speaking aloud rather than relying only on silent reading.
• Record yourself and review specific pronunciation problems.
• Use short exercises consistently.
• Seek feedback if you cannot identify your own mistakes.

You do not need to eliminate your accent to communicate effectively. The aim is to make your speech clearer, more understandable and more comfortable for you and your listeners.

Pronunciation and Speaking Courses at IFI Qatar

If you find it difficult to pronounce TH sounds or want to improve your spoken English more generally, structured practice and feedback may help.

IFI Qatar offers English language learning options across levels from A1 to C1, with face-to-face and online learning options. If pronunciation is one of your main challenges, contact the team to ask which available course or learning option can best address your needs.

Before enrolling, ask about opportunities to practise speaking, receive pronunciation feedback and work on the sounds that are most difficult for you.

Ready to improve your English speaking skills? Contact IFI Qatar to discuss your learning goals and explore suitable English course options.

• Location: 16th Floor, Laffan Tower, West Bay, Doha, Qatar
• Phone: +974 4037 9708
• Email: info@ifi.qa
• Website: https://ifi.qa

Frequently Asked Questions About Pronouncing TH in English

Why is the TH sound difficult for English learners?

The TH sounds can be challenging because the tongue position and airflow may differ from those used in a learner’s first language. With regular listening, controlled practice and useful feedback, learners can become more comfortable producing both sounds.

What is the difference between the TH sounds in “think” and “this”?

Think begins with the voiceless sound /θ/, produced without vocal-cord vibration. This begins with the voiced sound /ð/, produced with vocal-cord vibration. Both sounds use a similar tongue position.

Should my tongue come out between my teeth when I pronounce TH?

The tip of your tongue can rest lightly between your front teeth or close to their edge. Only a small movement is needed. Avoid pushing your tongue too far out or pressing it too firmly against your teeth.

Can I pronounce TH correctly without a teacher?

Yes. You can practise independently using a mirror, dictionary audio, recorded speech and targeted exercises. However, a teacher can help identify errors that you may not notice yourself and suggest exercises suited to your needs.

How long does it take to learn the TH sound?

The time varies depending on your starting point, how familiar the sound is to you and how regularly you practise. Short daily sessions can help you develop awareness and control, but consistent use in real speech may take longer.

Does correct TH pronunciation matter for IELTS Speaking?

Clear pronunciation contributes to the Pronunciation criterion in IELTS Speaking. Word-level accuracy is only one part of this skill; stress, rhythm and intonation also matter. You do not need to imitate a particular native accent, but your speech should be understandable.

Do all English words containing TH use the same sound?

No. Many words use /θ/ or /ð/, but some words with the letters TH use a different sound. For example, Thomas begins with /t/. Check unfamiliar words in a reliable pronunciation dictionary rather than assuming the spelling always determines the sound.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to pronounce TH in English becomes easier when you understand the difference between /θ/ and /ð/, use the correct tongue position and practise the sounds in meaningful contexts.

Start with individual sounds, move to common words and contrasting pairs, then practise sentences and short conversations. Regular listening and feedback can help you recognise mistakes and develop clearer pronunciation over time.

If you want more structured support with English speaking and pronunciation, contact IFI Qatar to explore suitable learning options in Doha or online.