Sound lab · 01
How to pronounce /θ/: the sound in think
The /θ/ in think is a quiet, continuous stream of air. Your tongue makes a narrow passage at the front teeth. There is no burst, and your voice stays off.
Simplified teaching model, not an anatomical simulation. The tongue moves toward the upper front teeth; air escapes through a narrow gap.
A guide that speaks your language
Use the th in thin as an anchor. It is different from the voiced /ð/ in this. English accents vary; this lesson teaches a widely used dental-fricative target for clear practice, not the only valid accent.
Build the sound, step by step
- Relax your lips and open your jaw slightly. Bring the tip of your tongue gently to the edge of your upper front teeth; it may show a little between the teeth.
- Let air pass continuously through the narrow gap. Do not bite your tongue or seal the passage. Hold a soft /θ/ for one comfortable breath.
- Touch your throat gently: the target /θ/ has no vocal-fold vibration. Then move straight into /ɪ/ and finish /ŋk/ to say think.
What to watch for
- If it sounds like /s/, your tongue may be too far behind the teeth. Bring the tip forward, without pressing harder.
- If it sounds like /t/, you may be blocking the air and releasing it in a burst. Keep a small gap open.
- If it sounds like /f/, check that your lower lip is not replacing your tongue against the upper teeth.
Hear the difference in your own voice
Try thin /θɪn/ and sin /sɪn/, then thin and tin /tɪn/. Keep the vowel steady and change only the first sound. Say each pair slowly, then use “a thin line” in a short phrase.
Try it in a word
References & editorial notes
Text and model prepared by PronounceKit. The model illustrates movement and has no medical use; English accents vary. These references explain sound classification and the th contrast.
Updated 16 September 2026