How do you pronounce the "th" sound in English?

Question

I can't make a difference between "thick" and "sick". They sound the same too. And I don't know how to make a difference in "the" and "duh". They sound the same! What am I doing wrong and how do I make these sounds?

Answer 1

There are two different ways to pronounce the "th" sound in English, but they are very similar. Depending on your native language they may be harder to learn than for someone else, but it isn't impossible. If there is no sound like it in the language(s) you speak, then it's likely that you are producing a sound in your inventory that is closest to it. Like [s] for [θ], or [d] for [ð].

The "th" in "thin" [θ] is made by sticking your tongue out a little bit. The tip of your tongue should be in between your teeth, so that it kind of looks like you are biting your tongue but your bottom lip covers your bottom teeth. Like your tongue is between your top teeth and your bottom lip. Then you blow air through your teeth as if you are making a [s] or [f] sound. It should make an airy sound that sounds somewhere between a [s] and a [f].

The "th" in "the" [ð] is made the same way, except you will use your voice to turn the sound into a buzzy one. With this sound the tip of your tongue will stick out a little bit in between your top teeth and bottom lip and you will hum through your teeth. It should make something that sounds between a [z] and a [v].

Answer 2

Student: I can't make a difference between "thick" and "sick". They sound the same too. And I don't know how to make a difference in "the" and "duh". They sound the same! What am I doing wrong and how do I make these sounds?

It's all in the teeth... or tongue

TUTOR ANSWER:

THICK

To say the word THICK, begin by gently holding the tip of your tongue with your front teeth, then open your mouth into a smile formation to say the remainder of the word (short "i", as in the word "indoors" plus the "k" sound = thick.).

To say SICK, you gently hold your front teeth together while smiling and hissing out air like a snake. Then, the rest of the word.

"TH" and "D" in the English language involve physically similar--but not identical-- positioning of teeth and tongue.

THE

This is one of the trickiest sounds in any language.

Begin by gently holding the tip of your tongue with your front teeth, then give voice to the sound that comes out as you connect to the rest of the word. (In the most common pronunciation, the letter "e" in THE sounds like a short "a," as in allow.) Or, you could spell it 'Thuh' in your mind if it helps! See immediately below!

DUH

It's close to, but not exactly like saying THE. Hold your your front teeth together with your tongue just behind the front teeth. Open your teeth and drop your jaw to voice the "D" as you aim for the vowel sounds that come next. The "uh" is pronounced like a short "u," as in the word UNDER.