English Highway Podcast

Pronunciation: Voiced and voiceless /th/ (#0284)

Use words and sentences to practice the /th/ sound.
Announcer:

Youre about to listen to an audio lesson from OpenEnglish.com.

Welcome to another audio lesson. Im your head coach Andres Moreno,
and today we have an exciting lesson ahead of us.
Todays lesson is about the pronunciation of the th sound in English. Are
you ready?
There are two types of th sounds. Listen to the following words:
think and this
Both words have a th, but the sounds are different. Place your hand in
front of your mouth when you say these words. Repeat after me:
think
this
When you say think, air comes out of your mouth. When you say this,
there is no air coming out of your mouth. Thats the difference.
So lets practice some words with the th sound. First were going to
focus on the airless th. Repeat after me:
the
You would never say tha. So repeat after me again:
the
Heres another example:
this
No air comes out. To prove it, place your hand in front of your mouth and
feel if any air comes out. Repeat after me:
this
No air. Heres another example. Repeat after me:
they
And another one:
that

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And the last one:

there
Lets say them all together. Repeat after me:
the
this
they
that
there
Way to go. Thats the airless th sound. Now, lets practice some
sentences with some of these words. Repeat after me:
The book was very long.
the
And again:
The book was very long.
You got it. Heres another one. Repeat after me:
This is my favorite song.
And again:
This is my favorite song.
this
Good job. Heres another one. Repeat after me:
I don't know where they went.
they
I dont know where they went.
Good job. Heres another example. Repeat after me:
Would you like that present?
that
Good job. Repeat after me:
Would you like that present?
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Okay, last example with the airless th sound. Repeat after me:
there
There are too many options.
And again:
There are too many options.
Great job. Now lets practice words with a th sound that does involve air.
So place your hand in front of your mouth and repeat after me:
think
Come on, feel that air coming out:
think
More air:
think
Thats it. Heres another one:
Thursday
And again:
Thursday
Feel the air:
Thursday
Good job. Heres another example:
Thank you
And again:
Thank you
And another one:
thin
And again:
thin
Good job. Last one, repeat after me:
thought
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thought
Good job. Now lets practice some sentences. Repeat after me:
I think shes a nice person.
And again:
I think shes a nice person.
Way to go. Heres another example. Repeat after me and give it your
best:
The test is on Thursday.
Thursday
The test is on Thursday.
Good job. Heres another example. Repeat after me:
Thanks for your call.
And again:
Thanks for your call.
Good job. Lets keep going. Heres another one. Repeat after me:
thin
Hes very thin.
Last time, come on. Lets feel that air coming out:
thin
Hes very thin.
Good. Last one, repeat after me:
I thought her comments were excellent.
And again:
I thought her comments were excellent.
Way to go. As a final tip, the th can also come at the end of a word.
Repeat after me:
truth

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When this happens, air always comes out. Place your hand in front of
your mouth and feel the air coming out:
truth
More air, come on:
truth
Heres another example:
Ruth
Thats it. And again:
Ruth
Another one:
booth
Again:
booth
Two more, repeat after me:
health
health
Good. Last one:
math
And again:
math
Great job. That was excellent. We worked on some tough sounds. My
recommendation as always is for you to listen to this audio lesson again
and again until you feel confident with the pronunciation of the th sound
because remember, practice makes perfect!
For additional practice, turn on your computer and go to
OpenEnglish.com. At OpenEnglish youll find hundreds of interactive
lessons and videos to help you perfect your English. Accelerate your
English today. See you soon.

An original Open English production in association with Cl@se.

Copyright FoxyP2 Inc. and Rainbow Heights International LLC

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Additional practice: The voiced and unvoiced th

Words:
think
the
this
they
that
there
Thursday
Thank you
thin
thought
truth
Ruth
booth
health
math
Sentences:
The book was very long.
This is my favorite song.
I do not know where they went.
Would you like that present?
There are too many options.
I think shes a nice person.
The test is on Thursday.
Thanks for your call.
Hes very thin.
I thought her comments were excellent.

An original Open English production in association with Cl@se.

Copyright FoxyP2 Inc. and Rainbow Heights International LLC

Page 6 of 6