How to tell /θ/ and /ð/ apart
Practice the difference between the voiceless "th" /θ/ and the voiced "th" /ð/.
/θ/
Voiceless TH
think /θɪŋk/
A voiceless dental fricative. The tongue is between the teeth, no voice.
Common mistake: Learners may replace /θ/ with /t/, /s/ or /f/.
/ð/
Voiced TH
this /ðɪs/
A voiced dental fricative. The tongue is between the teeth, voice on.
Common mistake: Learners may replace /ð/ with /d/ or /z/.
- •/θ/ is voiceless: think, three, bath.
- •/ð/ is voiced: this, they, mother.
- •Put your tongue between your teeth for both.
- •Touch your throat — /ð/ vibrates.
Minimal pairs
thigh/θaɪ/
thy/ðaɪ/
teeth/tiːθ/
teethe/tiːð/
loath/ləʊθ/
loathe/ləʊð/