How to pronounce English TH (think, this)
TH is the most recognisable English sound — and one of the hardest for learners. The good news: there's no magic to it. It comes down to a single tongue movement that becomes a habit after a few days of practice.
In this post
TH is two sounds, not one
The same two letters "th" spell two different sounds in English. Only one thing separates them: whether the vocal cords are working. The tongue position is identical for both.
Voiceless /θ/ — just the hiss of air, no voice. You hear it in think, three, bath, mouth, thank.
Voiced /ð/ — the same, but with the voice switched on (you feel a buzz in your throat). You hear it in this, that, mother, the, breathe.
Don't learn "the th sound". Learn one tongue position and just toggle the voice: think with no voice, this with voice. It's the same movement twice.
Why learners say "fink" and "dis"
Many languages simply don't have the sounds /θ/ or /ð/. When the brain meets something it doesn't know, it substitutes the nearest familiar sound — hence the typical swaps:
- think → "fink" or "sink" — /θ/ replaced by "f" or "s".
- this → "dis" or "zis" — /ð/ replaced by "d" or "z".
- three → "tree" — /θ/ replaced by "t".
This isn't a mistake born of laziness — it's a natural reflex. And that's exactly why it can be unlearned: you just consciously teach the brain a new movement instead of letting it reach for the old one.
Where to put your tongue — step by step
1. Tongue tip to the upper teeth
Touch the tip of your tongue to the lower edge of your upper teeth — or push it out ever so slightly between your teeth. You don't have to stick your tongue out far; light contact is enough.
2. Push air through the gap
Leave a narrow gap between your tongue and your teeth and blow air through it. That creates the characteristic hiss — that's /θ/, as in think.
3. Add voice — and you have the second sound
Leave your tongue in the same place and switch the voice on (your throat starts to buzz). Out comes /ð/, as in this. Put your fingers on your throat and feel the difference between "thhh" and "thhh with a buzz".
Exercise: minimal pairs
The fastest way to master TH is to drill it in contrast with the sound you replace it with. Say each pair out loud, slowly, exaggerating the tongue movement — you'll feel that these really are two different positions.
- think / sink — /θ/ vs /s/
- three / tree — /θ/ vs /t/
- thin / fin — /θ/ vs /f/
- they / day — /ð/ vs /d/
- breathe / breeze — /ð/ vs /z/
Don't drill them all at once. Take one pair (e.g. think/sink) and repeat it a dozen or so times a day until your tongue lands there on its own. Then the next one. One sound at a time beats "a little of everything".
How to practise until it becomes a habit
- Exaggerate at first. Early on, push your tongue out clearly and speak slowly. Naturalness comes on its own — first it has to be correct, then fast.
- Short, but daily. Three minutes a day works better than an hour once a week. Pronunciation is a motor habit, and habits are built by repetition.
- Record yourself. Say "think, three, this, mother" into your phone and listen back. Your ear catches "fink" or "dis" more easily from the outside than while speaking.
- Compare with a model. Set your recording next to a native one — the difference is what shows you what to fix.
FAQ
Two. The voiceless /θ/ (think, three, bath) and the voiced /ð/ (this, that, mother). The only difference is whether the vocal cords work — the tongue position is the same.
Because many languages don't have the sound /θ/, so the brain substitutes the nearest familiar one — usually "f", "t" or "s". It's a natural reflex you can unlearn by practising the right tongue position.
Not far. It's enough for the tongue tip to touch the lower edge of the upper teeth and for air to pass through a narrow gap. Native speakers often do it very subtly.
Put your fingers on your throat. With /θ/ (think) you feel only air. With /ð/ (this) the throat buzzes, because you add voice. The tongue position is identical for both.
The movement itself takes a few minutes to find. For it to come out automatically in fast speech, a few days to a couple of weeks of short, daily minimal-pair practice is usually enough.
Check your TH with a score
On the Accentlo platform you say think, three and this on real words — with a model recording and instant feedback on whether you hit the sound. The first exercises are free.
Start practising →