Pronunciation Guide

"There are actually two different "th" sounds in English, but they are very similar. Both "th" sounds are made putting your tongue between your teeth so that the tip of your tongue is touching the tips of your to teeth. Now you can make a "th" sound by blowing are through your teeth. You can check to see if you are doing it correctly by using a mirror. You should be able to see your tongue when you say words such as "this", "the" and "that". If cannot see your tongue, you may be putting your tongue behind your top teeth instead of touching the tips of your teeth top.

If you put your tongue behind your top teeth, you will make a /d/ or /t/ sound instead of a "th' sound. If it sound like you are making an /s/ or /z/ sound, it is also because your tongue is behind your teeth. Make sure you are touching your teeth with your tongue.

Practice : Work with a partner to decide whether the following words are TH sound or the th sound.

Mother (TH)

Think (th)

That (TH)

Though (TH)

Weather (TH)

Through(th)

Enthusiasm (th)

Bathtub (th)

Toothbrush (th)

Mathematics (th)

Earth ( th)

Thread (th)

Clothes (TH)

Myths (th)

Make a sentence for each of the following words and tell it to your partner :

Cloth (v)

Clothe (N)

Clothes (NP)


Helpful sites :
http://www.soundsofenglish.org/pronunciation/th.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pronunciation of English th


Minimal Pairs Game

Circle the words that you hear:

1. three-------------- free

2. thin ---------------sin

3. fought ------------thought

4. frilled ------------ thrilled

5. Think ------------ sink

6. Dis -------------- this

7. Dug -------------- thug

8. Thing ------------ Fing

Circle the word that hear from the pair of words :

1. Thy ------------ thigh

2. Breathe -------- Breath