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    Pronunciation · consonant

    The /ð/ sound: th as in this

    In short

    /ð/ is a voiced dental fricative, the consonant you hear in this, mother, breathe. It is voiced: your vocal cords vibrate while you make it. Below: exactly how to position your mouth, audio you can copy, the mistakes learners actually make, and drills to fix them.

    How to pronounce /ð/

    1. 1Same tongue-between-teeth position as /θ/.
    2. 2Switch your voice on; the tongue tip should buzz.
    3. 3It appears in the most common English words: the, this, that, they.

    Sounds like: the voiceless th with a buzz added

    /ð/ in words, with audio

    Listen, then copy. The slow (turtle) version exaggerates the mouth movement.

    • thisðɪs · sound is initial
    • motherˈmʌðə · sound is medial
    • breathebriːð · sound is final
    • theyðeɪ · sound is initial
    • weatherˈweðə · sound is medial
    • althoughɔːlˈðəʊ · sound is medial

    The mistake almost everyone makes

    Substituting /d/ ('this' → 'dis') or /z/ ('breathe' → 'breeze'). Because 'the' is the most frequent word in English, this error is heard constantly.

    Spellings of /ð/

    These letter patterns commonly spell /ð/: th. English spelling is unreliable; trust the IPA, not the letters.

    Don't confuse it with…

    Minimal pairs isolate the exact contrast, the fastest way to train both your ear and your mouth.

    Words that drill /ð/

    Each has a full breakdown, audio in both accents and a recording drill. Practising a sound inside a real word transfers better than practising it alone.

    rhythmRITH-umclothesKLOHDHZSouthwarkSUDH-uk

    Browse the whole word bank

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    Frequently asked questions

    How do you pronounce the /ð/ sound?
    Same tongue-between-teeth position as /θ/. Switch your voice on; the tongue tip should buzz. It appears in the most common English words: the, this, that, they.
    What is the most common mistake with /ð/?
    Substituting /d/ ('this' → 'dis') or /z/ ('breathe' → 'breeze'). Because 'the' is the most frequent word in English, this error is heard constantly.
    Which spellings make the /ð/ sound?
    Common spellings include “th”, as in this /ðɪs/, mother /ˈmʌðə/, breathe /briːð/.
    Does /ð/ matter for IELTS?
    Yes. This is a high-priority sound. Errors here frequently change one word into another, which examiners hear as reduced clarity (the exact Band 6 wording is “mispronunciation … reduces clarity at times”).

    Next step

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