The /ð/ sound is a unique and important consonant in English, often heard in everyday words like the, this, and mother. This sound can be challenging for English learners because it doesn’t exist in many other languages, but mastering it will greatly improve your pronunciation and listening skills. On this page, you’ll learn how to pronounce /ð/ correctly, recognize it in words, and practice using it confidently in speech.
Consonant Sound /ð/
What Is the Consonant Sound /ð/?
The /ð/ sound is a voiced dental fricative in English. It appears in many common words, especially function words like the, this, and that. Here’s what it means:
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Voiced: Your vocal cords vibrate when making the sound.
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Dental: It’s produced by placing the tip of your tongue lightly against your upper front teeth.
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Fricative: Air flows between your tongue and teeth, creating a soft buzzing sound.
How to Pronounce /ð/
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Gently place your tongue against your upper front teeth.
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Let air pass through while vibrating your vocal cords.
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Make a soft buzzing sound — not as strong as /z/ or /v/.
Below is the pronunciation of the /ð/ sound along with the word: this.
Examples of /ð/ Sound
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At the beginning: the /ðə/, this /ðɪs/, they /ðeɪ/
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In the middle: mother /ˈmʌðər/, brother /ˈbrʌðər/, feather /ˈfɛðər/
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At the end: breathe /briːð/, clothe /kloʊð/
This sound can be tricky for English learners because it doesn’t exist in many other languages. But with practice, it becomes much easier to pronounce!
Words with Consonant Sound /ð/
Beginning Consonant /ð/ Sound
| Word | IPA |
| the | /ðə/ or /ðiː/ |
| this | /ðɪs/ |
| that | /ðæt/ |
| these | /ðiːz/ |
| those | /ðoʊz/ |
| they | /ðeɪ/ |
| them | /ðɛm/ |
| their | /ðɛr/ |
| theirs | /ðɛrz/ |
| themselves | /ðəmˈsɛlvz/ |
| then | /ðɛn/ |
| there | /ðɛr/ |
| therefore | /ˈðɛrfɔːr/ |
| though | /ðoʊ/ |
| thus | /ðʌs/ |
| thou (old) | /ðaʊ/ |
| thee (old) | /ðiː/ |
| thy (old) | /ðaɪ/ |
| thine (old) | /ðaɪn/ |
Middle Consonant /ð/ Sound
| Word | IPA |
| mother | /ˈmʌðər/ |
| father | /ˈfɑːðər/ |
| brother | /ˈbrʌðər/ |
| rather | /ˈræðər/ |
| weather | /ˈwɛðər/ |
| another | /əˈnʌðər/ |
| other | /ˈʌðər/ |
| together | /təˈɡɛðər/ |
| feather | /ˈfɛðər/ |
| leather | /ˈlɛðər/ |
| gather | /ˈɡæðər/ |
| whether | /ˈwɛðər/ |
| heather | /ˈhɛðər/ |
| smother | /ˈsmʌðər/ |
| bother | /ˈbɑːðər/ |
| hither | /ˈhɪðər/ |
| lather | /ˈlæðər/ |
| blather | /ˈblæðər/ |
| slither | /ˈslɪðər/ |
| tether | /ˈtɛðər/ |
| bathing | /ˈbeɪðɪŋ/ |
| clothing | /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/ |
| loathing | /ˈloʊðɪŋ/ |
| soothing | /ˈsuːðɪŋ/ |
| breathing | /ˈbriːðɪŋ/ |
| teething | /ˈtiːðɪŋ/ |
| writhing | /ˈraɪðɪŋ/ |
| seething | /ˈsiːðɪŋ/ |
Ending Consonant /ð/ Sound
| Word | IPA |
| breathe | /briːð/ |
| bathe | /beɪð/ |
| clothe | /kloʊð/ |
| loathe | /loʊð/ |
| seethe | /siːð/ |
| teethe | /tiːð/ |
| soothe | /suːð/ |
| writhe | /raɪð/ |
| swathe | /sweɪð/ |
| lathe | /leɪð/ |
| mouth (verb) | /maʊð/ |
| with | /wɪð/ (variant of /wɪθ/) |
| beneath | /bəˈniːð/ |
| bequeath | /bɪˈkwiːð/ |
| underneath | /ˌʌndərˈniːð/ |
| forthwith | /ˌfɔːrθˈwɪð/ |
| thenceforth | /ˌðɛnsˈfɔːrð/ |
| wherewith | /ˈwɛərwɪð/ |
| herewith | /ˌhɪəˈwɪð/ |
| therewith | /ˌðɛəˈwɪð/ |
Practicing Consonant Sound /ð/ Sentences
🔹 Beginning /ð/ Sound
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This is the book that they gave me.
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These apples are sweeter than those oranges.
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The weather today is perfect for a walk.
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They are waiting at the station.
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That is my brother’s bicycle.
🔹 Middle /ð/ Sound
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My mother makes the best cookies.
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His father is a kind man.
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We sat together by the fire.
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I’d rather stay home tonight.
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She wore a coat made of leather.
🔹 Ending /ð/ Sound
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Please breathe slowly and relax.
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I bathe my dog every weekend.
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Don’t loathe something you haven’t tried.
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Can you soothe the crying baby?
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She spoke with a soft mouth.