How to Teach Th Sound: Articulation Activities, and Word Lists for Effective Speech Therapy

To teach the TH sound, have the child gently place the tongue tip between the front teeth and blow air out over the tongue. There are two TH sounds made the same way: the voiceless “th” in “think” and “bath” (just air), and the voiced “th” in “this” and “mother” (air plus voice). Practice in order: the sound alone, then syllables (tha, thi, tho), then words (thumb, think, bath), then phrases and sentences. The TH sound is one of the latest to develop, often not fully mastered until age 6 to 8. If your child says “f” or “d” instead (“fumb” for “thumb,” “dis” for “this”), the key cue is “put your tongue between your teeth.

Initial TH Words (words that start with TH)

Voiceless /θ/ (think): thank, theme, thick, thief, thigh, thin, thing, think, third, thirsty, thirteen, thirty, thorn, thought, thousand, thumb, thunder, Thursday

Voiced /ð/ (this): than, that, the, their, them, then, there, these, they, this, those, though, thus

Medial TH Words (TH in the middle)

Voiceless: anything, athlete, bathtub, birthday, everything, healthy, marathon, method, nothing, python, something, toothbrush, toothpaste

Voiced: brother, clothing, either, father, feather, gather, leather, mother, other, rather, weather, together, whether

Final TH Words (words that end with TH)

Voiceless: bath, both, cloth, earth, fourth, math, mouth, north, path, teeth, tenth, tooth, with, worth

Here are few tips you can follow to teach the Th sound:

Demonstrate the sound: Start by demonstrating the “Th blend” sound for your child. Make the sound and have your child watch your lips and mouth movements. Explain that the sound is made by placing the tongue between the teeth and blowing air through the small gap between the tongue and the teeth, while also rounding the lips slightly.

Visual Cue: Show the child how to place their tongue between their upper and lower teeth and then blow air out to produce the sound. You can use a visual cue such as a picture or flashcard of “Th” to help your child remember the sound.

Understand the sound: Help your child understand that the “Th blend” sound is a combination of the “T” and “H” sounds, made by placing the tongue between the teeth and blowing air through the small gap between the tongue and the teeth, while also rounding the lips slightly.

Practice Blowing: Help your child get used to the sensation of blowing out air with their mouth by having them practice blowing bubbles, blowing feathers across a table, or blowing out candles.

Practice Tongue Placement: Show your child how to position their tongue between their teeth and blow air through the small gap between their tongue and teeth, while also rounding their lips slightly to make the “Th blend” sound.

Practice in Isolation: Once your child has mastered the correct tongue, lip, and mouth position, have them practice making the “Th blend” sound on its own without any other sounds.

Add Syllables: After your child has mastered the “Th blend” sound in isolation, have them practice using it in different syllables, such as “tha,” “thi,” “tho,” and “thu.” You can make it more fun by having them say words like “thick,” “thumb,” and “thought.”

Practice in Words: Once your child has mastered the “Th blend” sound in syllables, have them practice using it in different words such as “thank,” “think,” and “thunder.”

Practice in Phrases: After your child has mastered the “Th blend” sound in words, have them practice using it in phrases like “big thumb,” “silly thought,” and “warm weather.”

Practice in Sentences: Finally, have your child practice using the “Th blend” sound in different sentences such as “I think that’s a great idea,” “The weather is getting colder,” and “My thumb hurts.”

Practice Everywhere: Encourage your child to practice using the “Th blend” sound in different contexts, such as during playtime, mealtime, or while reading books. You can also make it more fun by having them use the “Th blend” sound in different accents or dialects.

Free TH interactive audio flashcards featuring words with the “TH” sound words can be a useful tool for improving pronunciation and vocabulary.