Did you know that the TH sound in English comes in two different forms? It might seem tricky at first, especially for non-native speakers, but don’t worry!

With some helpful tips and a bit of practice, you’ll have both pronunciations down in no time.

Mastering the voiced TH /ð/ sound can be a game-changer for non-native English speakers.

It’s that tricky sound you hear in words like "the" and "that", where your tongue touches between your teeth, but unlike its unvoiced sibling /θ/, you can feel your vocal cords buzzing.

This small detail can make a huge difference in how natural and fluent your English sounds.

But don’t worry, with a little practice and the right technique, you’ll nail it in no time. Ready to feel that vibration and perfect your pronunciation? Let’s dive in!

The Voiced TH /ð/

The voiced TH /ð/ sound is produced by placing the tip of the tongue between the upper and lower front teeth, similar to the unvoiced TH /θ/ sound, but with the vocal cords vibrating. 

This creates a voiced sound that is similar to the "th" sound in "the" or "that". The sound requires more effort from the vocal cords and throat than the unvoiced TH /θ/ sound, and the vibration of the tongue can be felt when producing the sound correctly.

Examples:

• The = ði
  She’s the best.

• this / that = ðɪs / ðæt
  This one is bad. That one’s good.

• them / themselves = ðɛm / ðɛmˈsɛlvz
  I came with them. / They  came by themselves.

• these / those = ðiz / ðoʊz
  These are too big. Those fit better.

• they = ðeɪ 
  They can’t come tonight..

• their = ðɛr
  Their dog is so sweet.

• there = ðɛr
  There aren’t enough.

• another = ə - ˈnʌ - ðər
  Would you like another drink?

• mother / father / brother = ˈmʌ - ðər / ˈfɑ - ðər / ˈbrʌ - ðər
  His mother, father and brother live in Spain.

• breathe = brið
  Breathe in. Breathe out.

• smooth = smuð
  It was a smooth ride.

• northern / southern = ˈnɔrðərn / ˈsʌðərn
  The Northern and Southern Hemispheres have opposite seasons.

Keep Learning

Loved these tips? Don’t stop now—learn how to pronounce the 42 American phonetic sounds. Click here to dive in!

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