TH has two English speech sounds: voiceless /θ/ in think, thumb and bath, and voiced /ð/ in this, mother and breathe. Choose words by both sound and word position. The lists below separate the two targets and add phrases you can use during play.
How does the TH sound work?
In thin, air flows without the vocal-fold vibration used in this. In both, the tongue is near or lightly between the front teeth. Say the two words naturally to hear the contrast. The final TH in with varies by accent, so it is not included as a fixed target in these lists.
Voiceless TH at the beginning
think, thumb, thin, thick, thank, thirsty, thirty, thunder, thousand, Thursday.
| Word | Short phrase |
|---|---|
| think | I think so |
| thumb | my thumb |
| thick | thick soup |
| thank | thank you |
Voiceless TH in the middle
bathtub, toothbrush, birthday, athlete, healthy, wealthy, author, panther, nothing, something.
| Word | Short phrase |
|---|---|
| bathtub | a big bathtub |
| toothbrush | my toothbrush |
| birthday | happy birthday |
| healthy | a healthy snack |
Voiceless TH at the end
bath, tooth, teeth, math, path, cloth, moth, earth, breath, wreath.
| Word | Short phrase |
|---|---|
| bath | a warm bath |
| teeth | brush teeth |
| path | the garden path |
| moth | a flying moth |
Voiced TH at the beginning
this, that, these, those, they, them, their, there, then, though.
| Word | Short phrase |
|---|---|
| this | this book |
| those | those shoes |
| there | over there |
| then | then we go |
Voiced TH in the middle
mother, father, brother, other, another, feather, weather, together, clothing, bathing.
| Word | Short phrase |
|---|---|
| another | another turn |
| feather | a soft feather |
| weather | rainy weather |
| together | play together |
Voiced TH at the end
breathe, bathe, teethe, soothe.
| Word | Short phrase |
|---|---|
| breathe | breathe slowly |
| bathe | bathe the dog |
| teethe | babies teethe |
| soothe | soothe the baby |
A short TH practice activity
Put a toy on this chair, then that chair. For voiceless TH, draw a path to a pretend bath. Use the target that matches your current practice goal; the spelling TH alone does not identify which sound you are practicing.
- Choose two or three useful words from one group.
- Say each word naturally while sharing the object, picture or activity.
- Offer a turn without requiring a repetition. Use a short phrase if that fits the current goal.
- Write down what happened and stop if the activity becomes frustrating.
These are original home-activity ideas. If your child has an SLP, use the word targets and practice approach they recommend.
What age guidance applies?
The ages below come from Crowe and McLeod (2020), a review of 15 US studies of 18,907 children, reproduced on ASHA's Practice Portal. Each column is the average age at which that share of children produced the sound correctly: half, three quarters, or nine in ten. The last column shows how far apart the individual studies were for the nine in ten figure.
| Sound | Half of children (50%) | Three quarters (75%) | Nine in ten (90%) | Range of the 90% ages across studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voiced TH, as in this | 3 years 6 months | 4 years 9 months | 5 years 9 months | 4 years 6 months to 8 years |
| Voiceless TH, as in think | 3 years 10 months | 5 years 4 months | 6 years 5 months | 6 years to 8 years |
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) weigh these averages against a child's overall ability. ASHA's chart page, citing Storkel (2019), says no single measure can settle whether a child has a speech sound disorder, and that norms are one source of information. Worried at any age? You can ask for an evaluation without waiting.
Read the acquisition chart and its limitations. ASHA's public speech-sound guidance also explains why language and dialect differences matter. For other sounds, see our guide to sound development by age and the NG sound words page. Chart checked October 30, 2026.
More word lists and activities
Use the speech word-list directory, three-syllable words and four-syllable words to choose another language or speech activity. Our free printable library has more resources. For a specific speech goal, keep the target sound separate from a syllable-count activity.
Frequently asked questions
Are all TH words the same speech target?
No. Think and bath use voiceless TH, while this and breathe use voiced TH. Sort the words by pronunciation as well as position.
What are easy TH phrases for practice?
Examples include my thumb, thank you, a warm bath, this book, another turn and a soft feather. Pick familiar words that match the target sound.
At what age do children say TH correctly?
In ASHA's chart of 15 US studies, half of children produce voiced TH, as in this, by 3 years 6 months, and voiceless TH, as in think, by 3 years 10 months. Nine in ten do by 5 years 9 months and 6 years 5 months on average. These are averages, not deadlines.
Is TH at the beginning always easier?
No single position is easiest for everyone. Compare a few familiar words and follow the target selected with your speech-language pathologist when receiving therapy.
About this word list
Little Words Editorial curated the words and phrases and updated this page September 6, 2026. Pronunciations reflect the English examples described above. The linked sources support the developmental context; the word lists and activities are editorial resources. See our editorial standards.