60 TH Words for Speech Therapy

This list has 60 TH words for speech therapy: 20 with the /TH/ sound at the beginning, 20 in the middle, and 20 at the end. Use them for practice at home or in the clinic, and expect most children to master the /TH/ sound by age 5-7.

Example TH words: think, thing, thick, thin, three (beginning); bathing, birthday, brother, clothing, feather (middle); bath, both, breath, cloth, earth (end).

Total words:60
Initial:20
Medial:20
Final:20

Initial TH Words (20)

Words with the /TH/ sound at the beginning. 20 words for speech therapy practice.

thinkthingthickthinthreethrowthumbthunderthethatthemthentheretheythisthosethankthiefthirstyThursday

Medial TH Words (20)

Words with the /TH/ sound in the middle. 20 words for speech therapy practice.

bathingbirthdaybrotherclothingfeatherfathergatherleathermathmothernothingpantherpythonsomethingtoothbrushweatherworthyathletebathrobeanything

Final TH Words (20)

Words with the /TH/ sound at the end. 20 words for speech therapy practice.

bathbothbreathclothearthmathmonthmouthnorthpathsmoothsouthteethtoothtruthwithbeneathgrowthhealthwreath

About the TH Sound

Background information to help you support your child's speech development.

The /TH/ sound has two versions: the voiceless /TH/ (as in "think" and "bath") and the voiced /TH/ (as in "this" and "the"). Both are produced by placing the tongue between or just behind the upper front teeth and letting air flow over the tongue. These are among the most commonly misarticulated sounds in English.

Most children master the voiceless /TH/ (as in "think") by age 5-7 and the voiced /TH/ (as in "this") by age 5-7 as well. It is common for children to substitute /F/ or /D/ for /TH/ during early development.

How to Practice TH Words at Home

Evidence-based strategies for getting the most out of word list practice.

1

Start with just 5 words at a time. Short, focused practice sessions (5-10 minutes) are more effective than long ones.

2

Say each word slowly and clearly so your child can hear the /TH/ sound. Exaggerate the sound slightly.

3

Practice words in all three positions (initial, medial, final) but focus on whichever position your child finds easiest first.

4

Once individual words are easy, combine them into short phrases and sentences for carryover practice.

5

Use a mirror during practice so your child can see their mouth movements and compare them to yours.

6

Keep it fun — turn the word list into a game, use stickers as rewards, or practice during everyday activities.

TH Words — Frequently Asked Questions

What are some TH words for speech therapy?
Common /TH/ words include think, thing, thick, thin, three at the beginning of a word, bathing, birthday, brother, clothing, feather in the middle, and bath, both, breath, cloth, earth at the end. This page lists 60 in total.
How many TH words are on this list?
60: 20 initial-position words, 20 medial-position words, and 20 final-position words.
At what age should a child master the TH sound?
Most children master the voiceless /TH/ (as in "think") by age 5-7 and the voiced /TH/ (as in "this") by age 5-7 as well. It is common for children to substitute /F/ or /D/ for /TH/ during early development.
How do you 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). For the voiceless /TH/ (as in "think"), blow air gently over the tongue without using your voice. For the voiced /TH/ (as in "this"), do the same but turn your voice on — you should feel a vibration in your throat.
What are common TH sound errors?
The most common /TH/ errors are: Substituting /F/ for voiceless /TH/ (e.g., "fink" for "think"); Substituting /D/ for voiced /TH/ (e.g., "dis" for "this"); Substituting /V/ for voiced /TH/ (e.g., "vat" for "that"); Substituting /T/ for voiceless /TH/ (e.g., "tink" for "think"); Not sticking the tongue out far enough between the teeth.

Practice TH Words with Interactive Games

Turn this word list into fun practice sessions with pronunciation games, stories, and flashcards targeting the /TH/ sound.

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