Learning the difference between /d/ and /ð/ can be difficult for English learners. These two sounds are voiced and sound alike, but they are not the same. In this guide, you’ll learn what /d/ and /ð/ mean, how to pronounce them, and see easy minimal pair examples to practice.
How to Distinguish the /d/ and /ð/ Sounds?
What Are /d/ and /ð/?
Let’s take a look at the comparison table to see the difference between the two sounds:
| Feature | /d/ | /ð/ |
|---|---|---|
| How it’s made | Tongue touches alveolar ridge, stop and release | Tongue between teeth, continuous voiced airflow |
| Common spelling | d | th (in “this,” “that,” “these,” “those”) |
| Examples | dog, do, mad | this, that, father |
How to Pronounce /d/ and/ð/
✅ /d/ – The “d” Sound
- Place the tip of your tongue against the alveolar ridge (just behind your upper front teeth).
- Block the air completely.
- Release the tongue with a voiced burst.
Observe the illustration to see where the tongue touches for /d/.
Press play to catch the /d/ sound in “dog”.
✅ /ð/ – The “th” Sound
- Place the tip of your tongue lightly between your teeth.
- Let air flow smoothly while your vocal cords vibrate.
- Keep a gentle, continuous sound (not a stop).
Look at the picture to see how wide your jaw should drop for /ð/.
Play the example and feel how the /ð/ sound starts in “this.”
Minimal Pairs /d/ and/ð/ with Examples
Here are some clear examples of minimal pairs with /d/ and /ð/:
| /d/ Word (IPA) | /ð/ Word (IPA) |
|---|---|
| day /deɪ/ | they /ðeɪ/ |
| dare /deə/ | there /ðeə/ |
| den /den/ | then /ðen/ |
| dough /doʊ/ | though /ðoʊ/ |
| do /duː/ | the /ðə/ |
Minimal Pairs /d/ and /ð/ List
| /d/ Word (IPA) | /ð/ Word (IPA) |
|---|---|
| day /deɪ/ | they /ðeɪ/ |
| den /den/ | then /ðen/ |
| dare /deə/ | there /ðeə/ |
| Dan /dæn/ | than /ðæn/ |
| doze /dəʊz/ | those /ðəʊz/ |
| doe /dəʊ/ | though /ðəʊ/ |
| read /riːd/ | wreathe /riːð/ |
| lied /laɪd/ | lithe /laɪð/ |
| ride /raɪd/ | writhe /raɪð/ |
| breed /briːd/ | breathe /briːð/ |
| D /diː/ | the /ðiː/ |
| load /ləʊd/ | loathe /ləʊð/ |
| sudden /ˈsʌdən/ | southern /ˈsʌðən/ |
| die /daɪ/ | thy /ðaɪ/ |
| side /saɪd/ | scythe /saɪð/ |
| sued /suːd/ | soothe /suːð/ |
| udder /ˈʌdə/ | other /ˈʌðə/ |
| tide /taɪd/ | tithe /taɪð/ |
| wordy /ˈwɜːdi/ | worthy /ˈwɜːði/ |
| header /ˈhedə/ | heather /ˈheðə/ |
| laid /leɪd/ | lathe /leɪð/ |
Minimal Pairs Practice: /d/ vs. /ð/ Sounds — Practice Quiz
Q1
Question 1: Which sentence correctly describes how the /d/ sound is produced?
Q2
Question 2: The /ð/ sound is a stop consonant, meaning the airflow is completely blocked and then released.
Q3
Question 3: The words "day" and "they" form a minimal pair because they differ only in one sound. Which sound does "they" begin with?
Q4
Question 4: Match each word to its minimal pair partner.
Q5