Thinkabara๐ The TH sound: articulation words & activities
Everything you need to practice the TH sound /ฮธ/ and /รฐ/: 56 words at the beginning, middle and end of words (each with a picture and audio), blends, phrases, sentences, a short story and printable TH articulation worksheets.
How to make the TH sound
- Put the tip of the tongue gently between the front teeth.
- Blow air out โ "thhhh" โ without biting down hard.
- For voiced TH, add the voice: it should tickle your tongue.
TH words โ beginning of the word 16
TH words โ middle of the word 16
TH words โ end of the word 16
TH words โ blends 8
Tap any picture to hear the word (uses your device's built-in voice).
Practice mode and printable TH worksheets
Pick a level and position, then open the big-card practice mode or print picture cards, bingo boards, a memory game, a home practice log or a word list.
Phrases
- three thumbs
- thank you
- this one
- brush your teeth
- math path
- my mother
- feather in the bath
- thunder and lightning
Sentences
- I have three teeth loose.
- Thank you for the feather.
- This is my brother.
- The moth flew north.
- Thunder is loud.
- My mother takes a bath.
- I think it is Thursday.
- They walked together.
๐ Short story: Thea's Birthday Thunderstorm
On Thursday it was Thea's thirteenth birthday. Her mother baked a cake with three layers. Her father found a feather for her hat. Then โ BOOM โ thunder! "Oh no," said Thea. "My birthday party is outside!" Her brother thought for a moment. "Let's bring the party inside!" They threw a blanket over the table to make a theater. Thea sat on a throne made of pillows. Everyone clapped and sang. "Thank you," said Thea. "This is the best birthday ever, thunder and all."
Read it together slowly. Pause on each TH word and let your child say it, or ask who, what and where questions.
About the TH sound
TH is really two sounds. Voiceless TH (/ฮธ/) is in thumb, three and bath โ only air. Voiced TH (/รฐ/) is in this, mother and smooth โ the voice buzzes. Both are made with the tongue tip lightly between or just behind the front teeth.
TH is one of the last sounds children master. Saying "f" for TH ("free" for three) or "d" for TH ("dis" for this) is very common in young children. In some English dialects these forms are part of the dialect, not an error.
When do children learn it? Most children (about 90%) produce the TH sound by around age 5โ7, according to a 2020 review of US studies (Crowe & McLeod). Every child is different โ see the speech sound development chart.
๐ฒ Practice games
Thumbs up
Give a thumbs up every time you hear a TH word in a sentence you read aloud. Then the child reads and you give the thumbs up.
Tongue peek-a-boo
Use a mirror. The tongue tip "peeks out" between the teeth for every TH word.
Bingo and memory
Print the bingo boards (each one is different) and the caller cards. Whoever calls a card says the word; players say it again as they cover the square.
Tips for parents and teachers
- Keep sessions short and playful: 5โ10 minutes a day beats one long session a week.
- Go step by step: sound alone โ syllables โ words โ phrases โ sentences โ the story โ conversation. If it gets hard, go back one step.
- Model the word correctly instead of correcting ("Yes, a rabbit!").
- Practice voiceless TH (thumb) and voiced TH (this) as two separate goals.
- Blowing and tongue exercises without speech ("oral-motor exercises") have not been shown to improve speech sounds. Practicing the sound itself is what helps.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should a child say the TH sound?
In a 2020 review of US studies (Crowe & McLeod), about 90% of children produced TH /ฮธ/ and /รฐ/ by around age 5โ7. That is a range, not a deadline โ many children master it earlier, and some later. If you are worried, talk to a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP).
How do I practice the TH sound at home?
Practice for 5โ10 minutes a day, a little at a time. Start with whatever level is easy (a single sound, then words, phrases, sentences and the story). Say the word correctly yourself and let your child copy you โ don't ask them to "say it right". If your child sees an SLP, follow their plan and practice the words they choose.
Which position should we start with?
Usually the position the child finds easiest. For many sounds that is the beginning of the word, but not always โ an SLP will test which words and positions are stimulable (easy to imitate) for your child.
Are these printable articulation worksheets free?
Yes. Every word list, card set, bingo board and home practice log on this page is free to print on US Letter paper, with no sign-up.
More speech sounds
Related pages
All speech therapy activitiesMinimal pairsArticulation card makerHome practice sheets