English: How to Pronounce TH Consonants [θ] + [ð]

Struggling to pronounce the English TH sounds? Learn the correct tongue position and simple techniques to master both TH consonants from Rachel’s English.

English: How to Pronounce TH Consonants [θ] + [ð] is one of the most important lessons for improving your American English pronunciation. If you’ve ever replaced TH with T, D, S, or Z, this guide will show you exactly how to position your tongue, relax your mouth, and produce both TH sounds naturally.

The Two TH Sounds in English

English has two TH consonants that share the same mouth position but differ in one important way.

The Unvoiced TH [θ]

The unvoiced TH uses only air.

Examples:

• throw
• Thursday
• nothing
• worth
• south

There is no vibration in your vocal cords—only a steady stream of air passing around the tongue.

The Voiced TH [ð]

The voiced TH uses the same tongue position, but your vocal cords vibrate.

Examples:

• other
• either
• though
• brother

Place your fingers lightly on your throat as you practice. You should feel a gentle vibration when producing the voiced TH.

The Correct Tongue Position

The key to both TH sounds is placing only the very tip of the tongue between the teeth.

Remember These Tips

• Let just the tip of your tongue come through your teeth.
• Keep your tongue soft and relaxed.
• Allow air to flow freely around the tongue.
• Avoid creating pressure or stopping the airflow.
• Don’t stick your tongue out too far.

A relaxed tongue makes the TH sound much easier to produce naturally.

Keep Your Lips Relaxed

Your lips don’t create the TH sound, so they should stay relaxed and begin preparing for the next sound in the word.

For example:

• three

While your tongue forms the TH, your lips can already begin rounding for the R sound that follows.

This smooth transition helps create more natural American English pronunciation.

A Helpful Shortcut for Common Words

In quick, unstressed function words like:

• the
• these

the tongue tip doesn’t always need to come between the teeth.

Instead, it can lightly press against the back of the upper front teeth, where the upper and lower teeth meet.

This shortcut allows native speakers to pronounce these high-frequency words more quickly while maintaining a natural rhythm.

Be Careful

The tongue should not:

• Touch the roof of the mouth
• Point downward

It should stay relaxed and press gently in the correct position behind the front teeth.

Moving Smoothly Between Sounds

The TH sounds often connect to other consonants, and practicing these transitions is an important part of sounding natural.

Examples

• throw
• birthday
• brother
• worth

For example, in birthday, the tongue moves quickly from the TH into the D sound. Practicing this movement repeatedly will help it become smooth and automatic.

Practice Words

Repeat these words aloud to build muscle memory and confidence.

Voiced TH

• other
• either
• though
• brother

Unvoiced TH

• throw
• Thursday
• nothing
• worth
• south

Practice slowly at first, then gradually increase your speed while keeping the tongue relaxed.

Key Takeaways

• English has two TH sounds: voiced [ð] and unvoiced [θ].
• Both sounds use the same tongue position.
• Only the tip of the tongue should come between the teeth.
• Keep your tongue relaxed and allow air to flow freely.
• In unstressed words like the and these, native speakers often use a simplified tongue position behind the teeth.
• Practicing common words and smooth sound transitions will help you pronounce TH more naturally.