/ð/as in “this”

Consonant

How to pronounce /ð/ in English

The /ð/ sound is an interdental, voiced, fricative consonant.

Voiced
Fricative
Dental

Jaw
Open your mouth slightly.
Tongue
Put the tip of your tongue between your upper and lower teeth, gently touching them.
Lips
Relax your lips, opening them slightly to let the tongue show.

Example words

this
mother
that
breathe
the

Common mistakes

TH sounds

You stopped the air, so it became /t/ or /d/. Do not press the tongue; let the air keep flowing.
Your tongue stayed behind your teeth, so it became /s/ or /z/. Bring it forward to touch the teeth.
You used your lip. Leave the lips alone and use only the tongue.

How to practise

Rest the tip of your tongue lightly against the edge of your top front teeth. It only needs to touch.
Blow air steadily through the gap. It is a hiss you can hold: "θθθθ".
/ð/ is the same with your voice on, as in "this", "mother".

Easily confused words

think · sink
thank · tank
three · tree
mouth · mouse
they · day
then · den

Practise /ð/ with Letty

Say any sentence and Letty scores every sound, showing which one to fix. On iPhone, iPad and Mac, no internet needed.

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