The THS Sound: How to Pronounce TH + S in English

Do you struggle with the THS sound? Learn a simple tongue-and-air method to pronounce words like “months” clearly and confidently every time.

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The THS Sound can be tricky for English learners, especially in plural words like “months.” In this lesson, you’ll learn how to smoothly combine the unvoiced TH and S sounds so you can pronounce words ending in -ths more clearly and naturally.

Why Is the THS Sound Difficult?

The combination of TH + S requires you to move quickly from one unvoiced consonant sound to another. Because both sounds are produced without vocal-cord vibration, it can be tempting to leave out the final S altogether.

For example:

• month → singular
• months → plural

Saying “two month” instead of “two months” changes the grammar and pronunciation of the phrase.

How to Make the THS Sound

Step 1: Make the Unvoiced TH Sound

For the unvoiced TH /θ/, place the tip of your tongue lightly between or just behind your teeth.

Then, push air through the small opening between your tongue and teeth:

TH — TH — TH

Your vocal cords should not vibrate. You should feel only air passing through.

Step 2: Move Into the S Sound

After making the TH, pull your tongue back into your mouth while continuing to push air.

Then make the S sound:

TH + S → THS

The key is to keep the airflow moving as you transition between the two sounds.

Step 3: Practice “Months”

Now put the sounds together:

month → months

Start slowly:

THS — THS — THS

Then practice the complete word:

months

Once you feel comfortable, gradually make it faster and more natural.

Common Mistake: Dropping the S

One of the most common mistakes is pronouncing months like month.

You might hear:

“I’ve lived here for three month.”

But the correct plural pronunciation includes the final S:

“I’ve lived here for three months.”

The goal isn’t to force the sounds. Instead, focus on keeping the airflow going as you move from TH to S.

Key Takeaways

• THS combines the unvoiced TH /θ/ and S /s/ sounds.
• Both sounds are unvoiced, so your vocal cords don’t vibrate.
• For TH, let your tongue come through or lightly between your teeth.
• Move the tongue back while continuing the airflow to create S.
• Don’t drop the final S in plural words such as months.
• Practice slowly first, then build up to natural speech.

Practice the THS Sound

Try repeating these words slowly and clearly:

• months
• fifths
• sixths
• births
• truths

Focus on the transition between TH and S rather than trying to pronounce the entire word quickly.

With regular practice, the THS sound will become much easier and more natural.