The sound /θ/ can be in these consonant clusters:
-
Beginning of a Syllable
-
End of a Syllable
| th_final_clusters.mp3 |
/sθs/ (“ths”)
-
breaths
/lθ/ (“lth”) - filth
/lθs/ (“lths”) - health's
/rθ/ (“rth”) - earth
/rθs/ (“rths”) - fourths
/rmθ/ (“rmth”) - warmth
/nθ/ (“nth”) - tenth
/nθs/ (“nths”) - ninths
/ŋθ/ (“ngth”) - strength
/ŋθs/ (“ngths”) - lengths
/lθ/ (“lth”) - filth
/lθs/ (“lths”) - health's
/rθ/ (“rth”) - earth
/rθs/ (“rths”) - fourths
/rmθ/ (“rmth”) - warmth
/nθ/ (“nth”) - tenth
/nθs/ (“nths”) - ninths
/ŋθ/ (“ngth”) - strength
/ŋθs/ (“ngths”) - lengths
/tθ/ (“th”)
-
eighth
/tθs/ (“ths”) - eighths
/dθ/ (“dth”) - hundredth
/dθs/ (“dths”) - widths
/ndθ/ (“dth”) - thousandth
/ndθs/ (“dths”) - thousandths
/fθ/ ("fth") - fifth
/fθs/ ("fths") - fifths
/lfθ/ ("fth") - twelfth
/lfθs/ ("fths") - twelfths
/ksθ/ ("xth") - sixth
/ksθs/ ("xths") - sixths
/tθs/ (“ths”) - eighths
/dθ/ (“dth”) - hundredth
/dθs/ (“dths”) - widths
/ndθ/ (“dth”) - thousandth
/ndθs/ (“dths”) - thousandths
/fθ/ ("fth") - fifth
/fθs/ ("fths") - fifths
/lfθ/ ("fth") - twelfth
/lfθs/ ("fths") - twelfths
/ksθ/ ("xth") - sixth
/ksθs/ ("xths") - sixths
Grammar Tip:
The sound /θ/ is used in the suffix “-th”. This suffix may turn certain adjectives into nouns.
More importantly, the suffix “-th” also turns most cardinal numbers (four, five, six) into ordinal numbers (fourth, fifth, sixth). (Note: this may put /θ/ in a difficult consonant cluster.)
COMPARE
Compare /θ/ with /ð/:
| compare_th-eth_1.mp3 |
/θ/.../ð/.../θ/.../ð/.../θ/.../ð/...
These are both dental fricative consonants. However, /θ/ is a voiceless consonant and /ð/ is a voiced consonant. At the end of a word, the vowel before /θ/ will be shorter than the vowel before /ð/.
These are both dental fricative consonants. However, /θ/ is a voiceless consonant and /ð/ is a voiced consonant. At the end of a word, the vowel before /θ/ will be shorter than the vowel before /ð/.
Now, compare /θ/ with /s/:
| compare_th-s_1.mp3 |
/θ/.../s/.../θ/.../s/.../θ/.../s/
These are both voiceless fricative consonants. However, /θ/ is a dental consonant and /s/ is an alveolar consonant. To pronounce /s/, your tongue should rub against the hard ridge behind your upper teeth.
These are both voiceless fricative consonants. However, /θ/ is a dental consonant and /s/ is an alveolar consonant. To pronounce /s/, your tongue should rub against the hard ridge behind your upper teeth.
You can hear the difference between /θ/ and /s/ in these words.
| compare_th-s_words.mp3 |
1. A. thick, B. sick
2. A. theme, B. seem
3. A. thinks, B. sinks
4. A. path, B. pass
5. A. faith, B. face
6. A. plaything, B. placing
2. A. theme, B. seem
3. A. thinks, B. sinks
4. A. path, B. pass
5. A. faith, B. face
6. A. plaything, B. placing
PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
| words_with_-th-.mp3 |
|
1. think
2. thin 3. thanks 4. three 5. thorough 6. thirsty 7. thicken 8. theater 9. throw 10. both |
11. cloth
12. truth 13. worth 14. fifth 15. healthy 16. pathetic 17. birthday 18. toothpaste 19. pathway 20. anthropology |
Now, practice /θ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the
sentences.
| sentences_with_-th-__2_.mp3 |
1. thanks – thoughtful –
birthday
Thanks for the thoughtful birthday gift.
2. think – threw – toothbrush
I think you threw away your toothbrush.
3. path – through – north
A bike path runs through the north side of downtown.
4. third – marathon – Thursday
He’s running his third marathon on Thursday.
5. nothing – worth - truth
Nothing is worth more than the truth.
6. thermos – with – thirsty
You should take a thermos with you in case you get thirsty.
Thanks for the thoughtful birthday gift.
2. think – threw – toothbrush
I think you threw away your toothbrush.
3. path – through – north
A bike path runs through the north side of downtown.
4. third – marathon – Thursday
He’s running his third marathon on Thursday.
5. nothing – worth - truth
Nothing is worth more than the truth.
6. thermos – with – thirsty
You should take a thermos with you in case you get thirsty.
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