How to Link the TH Sound: American English Pronunciation

ESL: How to link TH. TH can be a tricky sound to link to other consonants.

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[rachelsenglish]

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[secolombia]

I'm an English teacher in Cartagena Colombia and in my opinion you are doing a great job.
We need MORE human beings like you in this world.

[rachelsenglish]

We do say a TH -- sometimes with the tongue tip coming through the teeth and sometimes with the tongue tip just behind where the teeth come together. But for a stressed word like 'thinner', the tongue will come through the teeth. The tongue tip is down for the S, and through the teeth for the TH. It's just a transition to break down and practice over and over.

[rachelsenglish]

@N0zer0 Did you see the example where I said you don't have to stick out the tongue? That is an example of what you are talking about ... however, that only works with the voiced TH [ð] -- not unvoiced [θ]. Thanks for your question!

[wanzhuzuo]

Thanks for your video, it's very helpful.
The following are my learning notes.
0:42 This thing       【ðɪs θɪŋ】      S + θ 正常发音
Here the tongue comes through for the first TH sound, tongue tip stays just behind the bottom teeth as they come together for the S, and the tongue comes through again for the TH. So the movement from the S to the TH is quite simple. Teeth go from being closed, with the tongue just behind the bottom teeth to parting with the tongue coming through. 
1:21 was that      【wəz ðæt】    z + ð that 非重读音节，ð发音时舌尖press behind where the teeth come together
Teeth  close for the Z sound, but the tongue tip doesn't really come through the teeth for the TH. That's because you can get away with making the voiced TH sound, especially at the beginning of an unstressed syllable, by pressing the tongue behind the closed teeth. So, the tongue tip will press behind where the teeth come together, but not actually come all the way through like it does for the unvoiced TH. 
2:14 Sit there        【sɪt ðɛr 】       stop T  + ð 在TH的发音位置发stop T
Rather than the tongue going up into the stop T position, it simply comes out of the vowel,  straight into the TH position. However, I don't leave the stop T out. I still stop the sound before voicing the TH ， so that we get the feel for the stop T. But rather than taking the tongue tip to the roof of the mouth, I make the stop  while bringing the tongue tip through the teeth.
3:03 Of these     【əv ðiz】     v + ð 正常发音
The bottom lip comes up making contact with the top teeth for the V sound, then the lip pulls down and the tongue comes through the teeth for the TH sound. 
3:35 Hope the  【hoʊp ðə】   P + ð 正常发音
The lips come together to make the P, and as they part, the tongue tip comes through the teeth to make the TH. 
4:03 North star 【nɔrθ stɑr】 θ + ST （consonant cluster） 正常发音
The tongue comes through the teeth, to make the TH. Then the tongue tip pulls back and
touches just behind the bottom of the front teeth while the teeth close to make the S sound. Then the tongue tip will go up to the roof of the mouth to make the T.
4:40 With funny        【wɪθ ˈfʌni】       θ + F        正常发音
 You'll be able to clearly see both mouth positions. Tongue comes through the teeth for the TH, and the bottom lip raises to touch the bottom of the front top teeth for the F sound. 
5:14       Both will           【boʊθ wɪl】      θ + W  正常发音
Tongue comes through the teeth for the TH, then pulls back and the lips form the tight circle for the W while the tongue tip is just behind the bottom front teeth. 
5:46    Health code    【hɛlθ koʊd 】         θ +K  正常发音
Tongue tip comes through the teeth for the TH. For the K, the tongue tip comes back in the mouth and goes down, touching behind the bottom front teeth. The back part of the tongue raises and touches the soft palate, which is why you see a dark space in the mouth.
6:22  South side     【saʊθ saɪd 】    θ + S  正常发音
Tongue tip comes through the teeth for the TH. Then the tongue tip comes back into the mouth and lightly touches behind the bottom front teeth while the teeth close to make  the S sound.

[rachelsenglish]

Yes, I would say those phrases are like 'sit there'. Tongue sort of takes both positions at the same time.

[Phrophesy]

Dear Rachel, I've decided to write you a small note, thanking you for your help. I enjoyed being taught by you immensely; you are an excellent English teacher and have inspired me to continue learning with an open mind. I appreciated all your hard work, it's meant so much to me. Once again, thank you so much for your time, expertise and patience.

[rachelsenglish]

There are not strict rules that I am aware of, but if the next sound is voiced, then the ending TH of with might be voiced (preference/habit of speaker).

[dyld]

The 'th' is one of the hardest sounds to pronounce for me

[mmrmr]

This is a very rare and necessary video!!! Every other channel is just giving the soft and hard th sounds but not linkings.

[marvilierencarnacao]

I thought I would never find a video explaining how to pronounce the TH following the S sound. It seemed so difficult but finally I can pronounce that combination of sounds without worrying that much. Thank you!!!

[rachelsenglish]

A lot of non-natives make the [d] sound instead because that is what they hear. But we do place the tongue lower that the D sound position, so it's more like the TH.

[rachelsenglish]

The L in HEALTH is a dark L. The Dark L has two parts: first the back part of the tongue pulls back towards the throat, making a Dark sound. Second, the tongue tip comes up into position for the L. I often make the Dark L with just the first part. Check out the Video on making the L in the Sounds How-To playlist on my channel.

[hanguyen]

Thank Rachel so much. After watching this video, I feel more confident with TH sound, which often drove me crazy before.

[Phrophesy]

If you were my English teacher I would never miss a day of school ever.

[carlitods]

Rachel you are the best... I've watching all your videos to improve my English...It really has helped a lot.... Thank you so much

[jamesbonofffradestin]

I understand your explanation perfectly. But that TH sound is tough like hell. I'll make it by using listening/shadowing method.
Again, you're the best. Thanks. You're a lifesaver.

[rachelsenglish]

I try to speak with and teach a Standard American accent. I grew up in FL, and then spend 5 years each in the midwest, Boston, and NYC.

[hoygafilimaada]

you are a teacher, an expert in learning english american
I REALLY APPRECIATE

[odbilegjp]

This is what I was searching for long time, linking about th sound .
Thank you so much always.