TH tongue twisters
English has two TH sounds: the breathy one in "think" and the buzzing one in "this". Both need the tongue lightly between the teeth, which many speakers replace with F, T, or D under pressure.
Practise these 19 twisters
The lips, the teeth, the tip of the tongue.
Easy · sounds: l, p, th, t · traditional
Exaggerate each place as you name it: lips together for 'p', tongue between the teeth for 'th', and tongue tip up for 't' and 'l'.
Say it 3 times fast
Time three clean repetitions.
Clean repetitions
Aim for 5 in a row without a slip.
Record and listen back
How to practise
- Let the tip of your tongue rest lightly between your teeth and blow air over it.
- Add your voice for the TH in "this" and "that"; keep it breathy for "think" and "three".
- Check yourself in a mirror. You should see the tongue tip on every TH.
All th tongue twisters, easiest first
- 1.
The lips, the teeth, the tip of the tongue.
Easy · sounds: l, p, th, t · traditional
Exaggerate each place as you name it: lips together for 'p', tongue between the teeth for 'th', and tongue tip up for 't' and 'l'.
- 2.
This thumb thinks that thumb is thicker.
Easy · sounds: th · SceneDub original
Keep your voice buzzing for the 'th' in this and that, and switch it off for the 'th' in thumb, thinks, and thicker.
- 3.
Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better.
Medium · sounds: l, th, w · traditional
Contrast the voiced 'th' in leather, weathered, and weather with the quick 't' in wetter and better, putting the tongue between the teeth only for 'th'.
- 4.
Three free throws.
Medium · sounds: th, f, r · traditional
Start three and throws with the tongue between the teeth and free with your top teeth on your lower lip, keeping the 'r' the same in all three.
- 5.
Tie twine to three tree twigs.
Medium · sounds: t, tw, th, tr · traditional
Put your tongue between your teeth only for three, and keep it behind your teeth for tree, which otherwise sounds the same.
- 6.
Thin sticks, thick bricks.
Medium · sounds: th, st, k, br · traditional
Feel your tongue move from between the teeth for 'th' to behind them for 'st', and give the 'k' in sticks, thick, and bricks a crisp release.
- 7.
Whether the weather be fine or whether the weather be not, whether the weather be cold or whether the weather be hot, we'll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not.
Medium · sounds: w, th · traditional
Use a soft, buzzing 'th' in whether, the, and weather, touching your tongue tip lightly to your top teeth, and round your lips for each 'w'.
- 8.
Thelma thinks those thirty thick thimbles are theirs.
Medium · sounds: th · SceneDub original
Alternate the voiced 'th' in those and theirs with the breathy, voiceless 'th' in Thelma, thinks, thirty, thick, and thimbles.
- 9.
Tim thinks Tom taught Thad to think.
Medium · sounds: t, th · SceneDub original
Tap your tongue tip behind your teeth for 't' and slide it forward between your teeth for 'th', so thinks never becomes 'tinks'.
- 10.
Within the theater, thirty thespians breathe, then think, then thunder.
Medium · sounds: th · SceneDub original
Voice the 'th' in within, the, breathe, and then, and keep it voiceless in theater, thirty, thespians, think, and thunder.
- 11.
Thick thatch, thin thatch.
Medium · sounds: th, ch · SceneDub original
Rest your tongue between your teeth for each 'th', then pull it back to press behind the gum ridge for the 'ch' at the end of thatch.
- 12.
Mother's brother breathes smoother than father's other brother.
Medium · sounds: th, br · SceneDub original
Every 'th' here is voiced, so keep a gentle buzz at your tongue tip throughout and don't let it harden into 'd' or soften into 'v'.
- 13.
Fifty fat thrushes fought three thin finches.
Medium · sounds: f, th, thr · SceneDub original
Put your tongue between your teeth for 'th' and your top teeth on your lower lip for 'f', so thin and finches feel completely different.
- 14.
Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb. If Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb, see that thou, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust not three thousand thistles through the thick of thy thumb.
Hard · sounds: th, s, thr · traditional
Place your tongue tip lightly between your teeth for each 'th' and pull it back behind them for each 's', so thistle and sifter never blur.
- 15.
The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.
Hard · sounds: th, thr · traditional
Voice the 'th' in the, that, and they, and keep it breathy and voiceless in thirty, thieves, thought, and Thursday.
- 16.
Thank the other three brothers of their father's mother's brother's side.
Hard · sounds: th · traditional
Most 'th' sounds here are voiced (the, other, brothers, their, father's, mother's), so keep your voice on except for the breathy 'th' in thank and three.
- 17.
Seth's sister thinks Sid's thesis is thin.
Hard · sounds: s, th · SceneDub original
Pull your tongue behind your teeth for each 's' and forward between them for each 'th', taking extra care with Seth's, which goes 's', 'th', 's' in one syllable.
- 18.
Though the thief thought through the theft, three thorns thwarted him.
Hard · sounds: th, thr, thw · SceneDub original
Voice the 'th' only in though and the, keep every other 'th' voiceless, and round your lips right after the 'th' in thwarted.
- 19.
The builder measured the widths, lengths, and depths of the sixth and seventh paths.
Hard · sounds: th, ths, ksth · SceneDub original
Finish each cluster in full, 'dths' in widths, 'ngths' in lengths, 'pths' in depths, and 'ksth' in sixth, instead of dropping the 'th'.
More tongue twister sets
Warmed up? Put it to work with a free voice acting script or dub a scene online.
Frequently asked questions
What's an easy th tongue twister to start with?
Try "The lips, the teeth, the tip of the tongue." Say it slowly three times before speeding up.
What's the hardest th tongue twister here?
"Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb. If Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb, see that thou, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust not three thousand thistles through the thick of thy thumb." Place your tongue tip lightly between your teeth for each 'th' and pull it back behind them for each 's', so thistle and sifter never blur.
How many times should I repeat a tongue twister?
Aim for five clean repetitions in a row at a comfortable speed, then three times fast. A few minutes a day is enough for a warm-up; stop if your jaw or voice feels strained.