Lesson 44: Digraph th (/θ/ and /ð/)
Help Your Child Learn to Say, Spell, and Read the Digraph “th”!
What Will We Learn Today?
Today we’re learning the consonant digraph th, which spells two sounds:
/θ/ — unvoiced, like in thin or math
/ð/ — voiced, like in this or them
In this lesson, your child will learn how to say both th sounds, understand how th works as a digraph, and practice reading words, phrases, and sentences using this tricky but important sound pair.
What Is the Sound of th?
Unvoiced /θ/ — like in thin
To say /θ/:
Stick the tip of your tongue gently between your top and bottom teeth.
Blow air out softly.
Do not use your voice—just the air.
It’s a continuous sound: /θθθθ/
Voiced /ð/ — like in this
To say /ð/:
Place your tongue the same way as /θ/.
This time, turn your voice on while blowing air.
It’s also a continuous sound: /ðððð/
Tip: Place your fingers on your throat to feel the difference! You’ll feel a buzz for /ð/, but not for /θ/.
What Is a Digraph?
A digraph is when two letters work together to make one sound.
The digraph th is made of t and h, and it can spell two different sounds: /θ/ and /ð/.
Examples:
thin = /θ/ /ɪ/ /n/
this = /ð/ /ɪ/ /s/
You’ll find th at the beginning or end of words:
Beginning: thin, that, them
Ending: math, bath, path
Let’s Practice Reading Words
th /θ/ (unvoiced):
thin – theft – thud – thick – cloth – thump – bath – sloth – tenth – fifth – broth
th /ð/ (voiced):
than – then – that – this – them – thus
Model:
“/θ/ – /ɪ/ – /n/” → thin
“/ð/ – /ɪ/ – /s/” → this
Guide your child to tap each sound and blend them smoothly.
Let’s Practice Reading Phrases
the thin moth
bath and math
with the cloth
a big thump
path and bath
fifth and sixth
Ask:
“Which words have the th sound?”
“Does it sound buzzy or whispery?”
Let’s Practice Reading Sentences
I said to them, ‘Do the math.’
The cloth is on the bed.
That moth is on the path.
This broth is hot.
This is the sixth cup.
Have your child point to each word, tap the sounds, then read smoothly.
Let’s Practice Reading Connected Sentences
Mini-Story 1:
The sloth is on the bench.
That sloth is big and thick.
The moth is with the sloth.
The moth is thin.
The sloth had a nap.
The moth is glad.
Mini-Story 2:
The bath is hot.
I said to the kids, “Do the bath.”
The cloth is on the tub.
The moth is on the cloth.
I had to dash and get it.
That moth is big!
Encourage your child to act out the stories or retell them using more th words.
Color, Trace, and Write
Use printable worksheets where your child can:
Color pictures of th words (e.g., thin, bath, this)
Trace and write the digraph th
Sort pictures into voiced and unvoiced th sounds
[Download the th Worksheet Here]
Flashcards – Voiced and Unvoiced th
Use flashcards to help your child hear and identify the difference between /θ/ and /ð/.
Examples:
Voiceless /θ/: thin, math, bath, cloth
Voiced /ð/: this, that, them, then
Ask:
“Where do you hear the th sound?”
“Can you feel a buzz in your throat?”
[Download th Flashcards – Voiced and Unvoiced Sound Set Here]
Conclusion
The digraph th can be tricky, but with clear practice and fun activities, your child will learn to say, read, and spell both /θ/ and /ð/ confidently.
Ask your child:
“Can you whisper a th word… and then say a buzzing one?”