TH Sound: Speech Therapy Guide, Words & Games
The /TH/ sound is written /θ/ in the phonetic alphabet. This guide covers how to make the /TH/ sound, 60 practice words split across initial, medial, and final position, and the errors children make most often, plus 8 games for practicing it.
Example TH words: think, thing, thick, thin (beginning); anything, athlete, athletic, author (middle); bath, both, breath, cloth (end).
English spells two different sounds with the letters TH. This guide covers the voiceless one — the /TH/ in "think," "three" and "bath," written /θ/. It is made by placing the tongue tip between or just behind the upper front teeth and blowing air over it with the voice off. Its voiced partner, the /TH/ in "this," "mother" and "breathe," is made in exactly the same place with the voice on and has its own guide. Both are among the most commonly misarticulated sounds in English.
How to Make the TH Sound
Stick the tip of your tongue out slightly between your upper and lower front teeth (or place it just behind the upper teeth). Blow air gently over the tongue without using your voice — put a hand on your throat and you should feel nothing. It is a quiet, breathy sound, not a buzz. If you feel a vibration, you have made the voiced /TH/ in "this" instead.
IPA Symbol: /θ/
Most children master the voiceless /TH/ (as in "think") between ages 6;0 and 6;11 (by their seventh birthday). It is one of the last consonants to develop, and substituting /F/ or /T/ for it is a normal part of speech development in younger children.
Common TH Sound Errors
- Substituting /F/ for /TH/ (e.g., "fink" for "think")
- Substituting /T/ for /TH/ (e.g., "tink" for "think")
- Substituting /S/ for /TH/ (e.g., "sing" for "thing")
- Turning on the voice, which produces the voiced /TH/ in "this" instead
- Not bringing the tongue far enough forward, so the sound is muffled
TH Word Lists by Position
Practice these words organized by where the /TH/ sound appears. Start with the position your child finds easiest, or open the complete TH word list.
Initial TH Words
/TH/ at the beginning of words
Medial TH Words
/TH/ in the middle of words
Final TH Words
/TH/ at the end of words
How to Practice TH Words at Home
Evidence-based strategies parents can use to support /TH/ sound practice.
Show your child how to stick their tongue tip out between their teeth using a mirror. They should be able to see the tongue tip.
Use the cue "bite your tongue gently" — have your child place their tongue between their teeth and gently bite down before blowing air.
Practice the difference between /TH/ and /F/ by comparing tongue placement: tongue between teeth for /TH/, teeth on lower lip for /F/.
Have your child rest a hand on their throat: for this /TH/ they should feel nothing. A buzz means they have made the voiced /TH/ in "this" by mistake.
Start with the voiceless /TH/ — it is usually the easier of the two — and move to the voiced /TH/ once this one is reliable.
Use a feather or tissue in front of the mouth — the airflow for /TH/ should make it flutter gently.
Read books together and have your child practice /TH/ words as they appear naturally in the story.
Practice Sentences for the TH Sound
Read these sentences aloud with your child. Words containing the /TH/ sound are highlighted.
I think three birds sat on a thin branch.
My cousin took a bath on Thursday.
A thick path leads north through a forest.
Thank you for my birthday gift and a thoughtful card.
An athlete ran thirteen miles in a marathon.
Thirty kids threw a ball beneath an oak tree.
Both kids had healthy teeth after brushing.
A thirsty panther drank from a stream down south.
Games for the TH Sound
Practice the /TH/ sound with interactive games designed by speech pathologists.
Bubble Pop
/TH/ practice
Memory Match
/TH/ practice
Word Runner
/TH/ practice
Pizza Builder
/TH/ practice
Space Blaster
/TH/ practice
Sound Fishing
/TH/ practice
Whack-a-Word
/TH/ practice
Story Adventure
/TH/ practice
TH Sound — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions parents ask about the /TH/ sound in speech therapy.
When should my child be able to say the /TH/ sound?
What is the difference between voiced and voiceless TH?
My child says /F/ instead of /TH/. How do I help?
Why are words like "the" and "mother" not on this list?
Is the /TH/ substitution a sign of a speech disorder?
Do children who speak other languages have more trouble with /TH/?
More TH Word Lists & Resources
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