Minimal Pair /s/ and /θ/
as in
sing and
thing
Below is a list of words that vary only by one having the sound /s/ and the other the sound /θ/.
You can use this list to practise the sounds, or as a list of words to be careful in pronouncing.
At least while you are making a conscious effort to do so, it is fairly easy to pronounce these two sounds differently. /θ/ is pronounced with your tongue between your teeth or even sticking out of your mouth, and you can make sure you pronounce it clearly by putting your finger vertically in front of your lips and checking that it gets wet when you make this sound. /s/ is pronounced with the tongue well inside your mouth and the mouth much more widely stretched.
Elementary
mouse mouth
sing thing
Pre-Intermediate
face faith
force fourth
sick thick
sink think
sort thought
tense tenth
Intermediate
mass math
miss myth
pass path
saw thaw
seem theme
some thumb
song thong
use youth
worse worth
Upper-Intermediate
gross growth
kiss kith
Norse North
race wraith
seam theme
sigh thigh
sin thin
sore thaw
sought thought
sum thumb
truce truth
Advanced
moss moth
piss pith
purse Perth
sank thank
sawn thorn
suds thuds
sump thump
symbol thimble
Written for EnglishClub by Alex Case
Voiced by Jonathan Taylor
Next: /ð/ and /z/Learn English :
Pronunciation :
Minimal Pairs : /s/ and /θ/