Why it's difficult
The voiced /ð/ appears in the most common English words (the, this, that, they), so it affects every sentence you say.
How to make it
- 1Tongue tip lightly between your teeth, exactly as for /θ/.
- 2Now switch your voice on — you should feel a buzz on your tongue.
- 3Keep it soft. A hard d sound comes from pressing the tongue behind the teeth; don't press.
Check yourself: Say "the" slowly with a finger on your throat: you should feel it vibrate, and see your tongue between your teeth.
Practise these words
this
/ðɪs/
mother
/mʌðə/
weather
/weðə/
although
/ɔːlðəʊ/
Minimal pairs — hear the difference
Only one sound changes. Play them one after the other, watch the mouth, then say them yourself.
they
/ðeɪ/
day
/deɪ/
then
/ðen/
den
/den/
those
/ðəʊz/
doze
/dəʊz/
breathe
/briːð/
breed
/briːd/
Say it in a sentence
“My brother and father went there together.”
Record yourself and compare
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