PRACTICE LIBRARY · ABOUT 5 MINUTES · GENERAL AMERICAN
English TH sounds: a five-minute listening and speaking exercise
Distinguish voiceless /θ/ and voiced /ð/ and carry both into a short sentence.
Written TH can represent different sounds. In the General American examples here, think begins with voiceless /θ/ and this begins with voiced /ð/. Both are made with the tongue near or lightly touching the upper teeth and air passing through. For /ð/, add vibration in the throat. Other English varieties and individual speakers may use different TH realizations; a different realization is not a measure of someone's ability or clarity.
Start the exerciseListen to two TH sounds
Each player is labeled with its word and target sound. Neither plays automatically. The clips use an AI voice from Accentuate's General American lessons; listen to the initial consonant.
This reference could not load. You can continue with the written exercise.
This reference could not load. You can continue with the written exercise.
Listen, choose, then say it
- Play each word once. Listen for the quiet airflow at the start of think and the voiced start of this. Replay as needed.
- Play one of the two clips without looking at its label, then choose which initial sound you heard. Reveal the answer and compare the opening sound. Repeat with the other clip.
- Say think, pause, then this. Put a finger lightly on your throat to notice voicing in this. Use your phone's recorder if you want to compare takes; this page does not record or score you.
- Say ‘Think about this.’ Then try ‘I think this is the one.’ Keep the rhythm natural; avoid stretching every TH. Record one take on your own device, listen back, and note which onset you want to repeat.
Try the listening check
Press play, listen to the start of the word, then choose the sound. The two words also differ in other sounds, so focus on their first consonant.
You can also use the labeled clips above without this check.
Variation matters. These clips model one General American voice. They do not represent every English accent. The examples are separate words, not a minimal pair: listen for their initial sound, not for a claim that the entire words differ by one sound.
If tongue movement or voicing is uncomfortable, stop and use listening practice only. Do not force the tongue between the teeth.
Pronunciation references: Cambridge Dictionary: think (US), Cambridge Dictionary: this (US).
Continue with guided practice
In the app, choose the variety you want to study. Its lessons add recording and directional feedback. This public exercise does not record or score speech; a similarity score is not a measure of comprehensibility.