Voiced /TH/ & Voiceless /th/ Difference - Pronunciation Pro

Voiced /TH/ & Voiceless /th/ Difference

Pronunciation Rules for Voiced /TH/ & Voiceless /th/

A common question I hear is: how do I know if a `th' should be voiced or voiceless? In this bonus lesson I will go through the rules to help clarify this concept for you.

Voiceless /TH/ 1. Beginning: Voiceless /th/ sounds happen at the beginning of content words. In

other words, if a `th' is at the beginning of a content word, then you pronounce the `th' as a voiceless /th/ sound. a. noun, verb, adjective, and adverbs. For example: think, thank, thought, thick,

thumbs. 2. Middle: If the `th' comes before a consonant then the `th' is voiceless. For example:

bathtub, truthful, toothpick. 3. End: If the `th' is at the very end of a word then it is always voiceless. This rule

applies to all words except the words "with" and "smooth". You will hear native English speakers pronounce "with" with both a voiced /TH/ and a voiceless /th/ sound. It's just a matter of preference.

Voiced /TH/ 1. Beginning: Voiced /TH/ sounds happens at the beginning of function words.

Function words are words that don't mean any specific thing or action. For example: this, that, these, those, then, than, they, them, their, there, therefore, etc. 2. Middle: If the `th' is between 2 vowels then the `th' is pronounced voiced. This specifically applies when there is a TH + /er/ sound, or /er/ + TH. For example: mother, and worthy. Notice that the /er/ sound is a vocalic R. a. Another example includes when the word is a verb + `e'. For example: bathe,

and loathe. b. Another example is with `th' + `ing'. For example: tithing, bathing.

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3. End: If the `th' is at the end of a word then it is not voiced, it is voiceless (refer to rule #3 from the voiceless rules). The only time it is pronounced voiced is with the word "with"--which some native English speakers pronounce voiceless.

Below I have provided common exceptions, practice sentences, paragraphs, and a comprehensive list of all the exceptions to the rules for voiced /TH/ and voiceless /th/.

Sentence Practice

1. The only thing I have against these are those. 2. Ethan is athletic--he has run thirteen marathons and three triathlons. 3. Thanksgiving is a day of gathering and thankful hearts. 4. I love live theaters and movies with authentic theories that make you think. 5. Margaret Thatcher ran everything with authority. 6. Mathematicians hypothesize the high probability of other planets like earth. 7. Southern food is without a doubt the best. 8. That clothing is red carpet worthy. 9. The cathedral was full of Catholics, methodists, and people of other faiths. 10. My orthodontist recommended toothpaste that fights plaque.

Paragraph Practice

Everything changed when my father switched health insurance. The transition wasn't smooth, but thankfully things turned out even better than I thought. Dr. Smith, my new orthopedic physician, found arthritis and I'm now going through physical therapy. That's not the best news, but this doctor, and the staff are all there for me and thrilled to help me.

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Paragraph Practice

There are many theologies around the world that--although they can be very different--I believe they have kept the earth more civilized than not. From Athens to Lithuania, great theologians and historical figures of faith, such as Jesus of Nazareth, Muhammad, Confucius, Siddhartha Gautama, and others, we have these individuals to thank.

Exceptions To The Rules List

brethren loathful loathsome

Athens author Bethel Ethan Ethel ether ethics ethos ethyl frothy Gothic Hawthorne mythical

Exceptions: use Voiced /TH/ in these words

rhythm

smoothly

rhythms

rhythmic

smoothness

smooth

Exceptions: use Voiceless /th/ in these words

Kathy

rethink

authentic

lethal

Ruthie

authorize

Luther

something

authorized

methane

southeast

authorship

method

toothache

cathedral

methyl

within

coauthor

mothy

without

Dorothy

Nathan

aesthetic

empathy

nothing

Agatha

ethical

pithy

anything

everything

python

apathy

Hathaway

methodic

atheist

Jonathan

Methodist

Athena

marathon

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Nathaniel nothingness Othello pathetic southeaster southeastward stethoscope sympathize sympathized

Timothy triathlon wherewithal anathema antipathy apathetic authority bathometer sympathy

hypothetic mathematics mythologist mythology pathologist pathology sympathetic sympathizer sympathizing

authenticity Catholicism hydrotherapy psychotherapy Catholic Church Dorothea hypothesis hypothesize amphitheater

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