In this reference, we are going to explain the difference between the /f/ and /θ/ sounds. Let’s break them down step by step.
How to Distinguish the /f/ and /θ/ Sounds?
What are /f/ and/θ/?
| Feature | /f/ | /θ/ |
|---|---|---|
| How it’s made | Voiceless labiodental fricative – top teeth touch bottom lip; air flows out | Voiceless dental fricative – tongue placed between teeth; air flows out |
| Common spelling | f, ph | th |
| Examples | fan, fish, coffee | think, thin, bath |
How to Pronounce /f/ and /θ/
✅ /f/ – Voiceless Labiodental Fricative
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Your top teeth touch your bottom lip.
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You blow air out gently.
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Your vocal cords do not vibrate.
Look at the diagram to see how the tongue is raised for /f/.
Press play and observe how the /f/ sound softens in “fun.”
✅ /θ/ – Voiceless Dental Fricative
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The tip of your tongue touches your upper front teeth.
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You blow air out between the tongue and teeth.
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Your vocal cords do not vibrate.
Have a look at the diagram to understand how the airflow is blocked for /θ/.
Listen carefully to catch how long the /θ/ sound lasts in “thing.”
Minimal Pair /f/ vs. /θ/ Example Sentences
✅ free / three
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I got free books from the event.
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I got three books from the event.
✅ fief / thief
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The story was about a fief in the old kingdom.
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The story was about a thief in the old kingdom.
Minimal Pair /f/ and /θ/ List
| /f/ Word | /θ/ Word |
|---|---|
| fin /fɪn/ | thin /θɪn/ |
| free /friː/ | three /θriː/ |
| first /fɜːst/ | thirst /θɜːst/ |
| fink /fɪŋk/ | think /θɪŋk/ |
| fank /fæŋk/ (rare) | thank /θæŋk/ |
| deaf /def/ | death /deθ/ |
| fought /fɔːt/ | thought /θɔːt/ |
| four /fɔː/ | thaw /θɔː/ |
| froze /frəʊz/ | throws /θrəʊz/ |
| fief /fiːf/ | thief /θiːf/ |
| firm /fɜːm/ | therm /θɜːm/ |
| fort /fɔːt/ | thought /θɔːt/ |
| frill /frɪl/ | thrill /θrɪl/ |
| furred /fɜːd/ | third /θɜːd/ |
| fret /fret/ | threat /θret/ |