ð
Consonant
/ð/ — Voiced dental fricative
Example words
| Word | US English | UK English |
|---|---|---|
| this | /ˈðɪs/ | /ðɪs/ |
| breathe | /ˈbɹið/ | /bɹiːð/ |
| that | /ˈðæt/ | /ˈðat/ |
| they | /ˈðeɪ/ | /ðeɪ̯/ |
| there | /ˈðɛɹ/ | /ˈðeə/ |
| father | /ˈfɑðɚ/ | /fɑːðə/ |
| brother | /ˈbɹʌðɚ/ | /bɹʌðə/ |
| other | /ˈʌðɚ/ | /ʌðə/ |
| weather | /ˈwɛðɚ/ | /wɛðə/ |
| with | /ˈwɪð/ | /wɪð/ |
Transcriptions come from pronunciation lexicons IPAtics maintains, in US and UK English.
How to produce this sound
SoundVoiced dental fricative.
TonguePlace the tongue tip/blade at or just behind the upper teeth. Form a narrow constriction to generate continuous, controlled friction.
LipsKeep lips neutral and unobtrusive.
JawKeep the jaw slightly open and stable so the channel stays consistent.
VoiceKeep vocal fold vibration on continuously and avoid dropping voicing mid-sound.
Minimal pairs
Each pair differs only in /ð/, so hearing them side by side isolates the sound.
- then/ˈðɛn/den/ˈdɛn/
- they/ˈðeɪ/day/ˈdeɪ/
- breathe/ˈbɹið/breeze/ˈbɹiz/
- though/ˈðoʊ/dough/ˈdoʊ/
Spelling patterns
- th as in this
Common mistakes for Turkish and German speakers
- Turkish speakers: /ð/ is often replaced by /d/, so "they" can sound like "day".Source: Swan & Smith (eds.), Learner English, 2nd ed. (Cambridge University Press, 2001), chapter "Turkish speakers"
- German speakers: /ð/ is often replaced by /z/ or /d/.Source: Swan & Smith (eds.), Learner English, 2nd ed. (Cambridge University Press, 2001), chapter "German speakers"
Practise this sound
- GuideTH Sounds in IPA: /θ/ and /ð/ Explained
- ConverterEnglish to IPA converter
- In Turkishİngilizce Telaffuz Rehberi — Türkler İçin IPA ile Başlangıç
- In GermanEnglische Aussprache für Deutsche: die fünf Fallen
- In Arabicنطق th في الإنجليزية: متى تكون ث ومتى ذ
- In SpanishCómo se pronuncia la th en inglés: /θ/ y /ð/
- In FrenchComment prononcer le th en anglais : /θ/ et /ð/
- In PortugueseComo pronunciar o th em inglês: /θ/ e /ð/
- In ItalianCome si pronuncia th in inglese: /θ/ e /ð/
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