The /ð/ as in THIS /ð/

One of the most common consonants in American English. Hear it in the, this, that, then.

IPA /ð/ Respell dh Category Consonant
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The /ð/ consonant, the voiced TH in this, that, and the, is made by resting your tongue tip against the bottom edge of your upper teeth and pushing air through while your vocal cords vibrate. It's the exact same mouth position as the quiet /θ/ in think, just with a buzz added in your throat. Because this sound doesn't exist in most languages, learners often swap it for a D or Z, turning breathe into breed or breeze. Getting that gentle, buzzing friction right is one of the things that separates a textbook American accent from a natural one.

How to make it

Three small adjustments.

Get them right and the sound takes care of itself.

Place your tongue tip between or behind your front teeth, turn your vocal cords on, and push air through the gap.

Tongue

Tip protrudes slightly between the upper and lower front teeth, or presses against the back of the upper front teeth.

Lips

Relaxed and open.

Quick tips

Two things to remember.

You need voicing for this one. Put two fingers on your throat and feel the buzz; without it, you'll end up making /θ/ as in think instead.

The tongue doesn't need to stick out far, just touching the teeth is enough.

Hear it in words

16 everyday words.

Tap any word for its full breakdown — every reduction, every flap-T.

this
dhihs
that
DHAT
they
dhay
them
dhuhm
then
dhehn
the
dhuh
there
DHAIR
these
DHEEZ
though
dhoh
those
dhohz
breathe
BREEDH
loathe
LOHDH
bother
BAH·dher
other
UH·dher
either
EE·dher
together
tuh·GEH·dher
Hear it in sentences

In real conversation.

5 short sentences where this sound shows up. Tap to play; click the title for the full breakdown.

This is my brother and that is my father.

DHIHS ihz mahy BRUH·dher and DHAT ihz mahy FAH·dher.

Neither father nor mother would bother either.

NEE·dher FAH·dher nor MUH·dher wuud BAH·dher EE·dher.

The rhythm of the music is soothing.

dhuh RIH·dhuhm uhv dhuh MYOO·zuhk ihz SOO·dhuhng.

It's smoother than the other one.

ihts SMOO·dher dhuhn dhee UH·dher wuhn.

Although they are brothers, they loathe each other.

ahl·DHOH dhay er BRUH·dherz dhay LOHDH EECH UH·dher.
Where this sound transforms

Connected-speech rules involving /ð/.

Each rule has its own page with examples and practice tips.

Rule 20

Quick TH (the, this, that)

Tongue tip presses behind teeth instead of coming through (easier articulation).
FAQ

Common questions about /ð/.

How much does my tongue actually need to stick out to pronounce the TH sound (/ð/)?
Barely at all, just enough to touch the bottom edge of your top teeth. Many ESL textbooks tell you to stick your tongue out between your teeth, but in casual American speech, that takes way too much time. Americans usually just press the tip of the tongue against the back or bottom edge of the upper teeth to create the friction. As long as you leave a tiny gap for the buzzing air to escape, you'll produce the correct sound.
Why do I accidentally say D instead of the TH sound?
You're stopping the airflow completely instead of letting it leak through. To make a D, the tongue blocks all the air and releases it in a sudden pop. To make the /ð/ in this or that, the air has to keep flowing continuously while your throat buzzes. If they sounds like day, try relaxing your tongue pressure against your teeth. Let the air buzz through the gap like a leaking tire before you move on to the vowel.
What is the difference between the TH in "this" and "think"?
The only difference is whether your vocal cords are vibrating. Both sounds use the exact same tongue and teeth placement. The /θ/ in think or thanks is unvoiced, meaning it's just pure air hissing through the gap. The /ð/ in this or mother is voiced, meaning you add a hum from your throat. If you put two fingers on your voice box, you should feel a strong vibration for this, but absolutely nothing for think.

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