/θ/ vs /t/: three vs tree

The soft dental /θ/ and the crisp /t/ separate three/tree, thin/tin and thought/taught. A low-load but highly visible contrast: 'tree people' instead of 'three people' is instantly heard.

Lower impact
7 pairs
Three voices

1 / 10

Which word do you hear?

See the difference

/θ/ is a continuous airflow with the tongue between the teeth; /t/ is a complete stop behind the teeth. If the sound stops and pops, it was a /t/.

as in three

Lips: Relaxed
Tongue: Tip between the teeth
Voice: Off: only air
Air: Squeezed through a narrow gap

Learn θ

as in tree

Lips: Relaxed
Tongue: Tip on the ridge behind the top teeth
Voice: Off: only air
Air: Stopped, then released in a small burst

Learn t

All 7 pairs

In a sentence

Hardest for speakers of

Questions

What is the difference between three and tree?

three /θriː/ uses the /θ/ sound while tree /triː/ uses /t/. /θ/ is a continuous airflow with the tongue between the teeth; /t/ is a complete stop behind the teeth. If the sound stops and pops, it was a /t/.

Which learners find the /θ/ vs /t/ contrast hardest?

It is most challenging for Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Russian, Vietnamese, Tagalog speakers, whose first languages don't separate these two sounds.