Pronunciación · P3
That Tricky TH
putting your tongue out
la dichosa TH
In this unit
English th has no everyday Spanish twin, so it often turns into t, d, s or f (think → “tink” or “sink”). The secret is simple: your tongue goes between your teeth. There are two versions — a quiet one and a buzzy one.
La ** th** inglesa no tiene gemelo cotidiano en español, así que suele convertirse en t, d, s o f. El secreto: la ** lengua entre los dientes**. Hay dos versiones: una suave y otra con zumbido.
El slang se queda en la frase. Toca la palabra con puntos — o clic derecho — y sale qué significa.
The sound · El sonido
Quiet TH (think, three, both): tongue tip between the teeth, just blow — no voice. Buzzy TH (this, mother, they): same tongue, but turn your voice on so it buzzes. Castilian speakers already have the quiet one — it’s the z in zapato.
TH suave (think): punta de la lengua entre los dientes y *sopla*, sin voz. TH con zumbido (this): misma lengua, pero *con voz*. En castellano ya tienes la suave: es la *z* de ~zapato~.
How to make it · Cómo se hace
1. Tongue tip pokes gently between your top and bottom teeth.
2. Quiet version (think): just air, like the Castilian z.
3. Buzzy version (this): add your voice — you’ll feel a buzz in your throat.
Say these · Dílas en voz alta
| not TH | TH | español |
|---|---|---|
| tin | thin | lata / delgado |
| tree | three | árbol / tres |
| tank | thank | tanque / gracias |
| sink | think | fregadero / pensar |
| sing | thing | cantar / cosa |
| day | they | día / ellos |
| dare | there | atreverse / allí |
| free | three | gratis / tres |
Why it’s tricky in spanish · ¿Por qué cuesta?
Swapping th for t/d/s/f is the giveaway: “I tink so,” “de weather.” Fixing it costs one move — stick your tongue out a tiny bit. It feels silly for a day, then it’s automatic. Start slowly with think and this.
Cambiar *th* por t/d/s/f te delata: “I tink so”, “de weather”. Se arregla con un gesto: saca un poco la lengua. Un día te sentirás ridículo y luego te sale solo.
♪ say it with a chant
“Tongue between your teeth, and blow —” “that’s the thing you need to know.” “Think and thank and three and this:” “tongue out gently, you can’t miss.”
Hear it in the wild
•I think this is the third thing on the list.
Creo que esto es la tercera cosa de la lista.
•Thanks — they said the weather’s better there.
Gracias, dijeron que allí hace mejor tiempo.
•Both of them? That’s wild, honestly.
¿Los dos? Qué fuerte, de verdad.
Give it a proper go, then check at the back.
Say them out loud — pronunciation only sticks when you use your mouth.
ACircle the word that starts (or ends) with a real TH.
1. tin / thin
2. sink / think
3. tree / three
4. day / they
5. free / three
BQuiet TH or buzzy TH? Write Q or B next to each.
TH suave (Q) o con zumbido (B).
1. think →
2. this →
3. thank →
4. mother →
5. three →
6. they →
CTongue out! Read these aloud slowly, then a bit faster.
1. think – thank – three
2. this – that – they
3. I think this thing is thin.
DRewrite the sentence with correct spelling — the TH words are hiding.
Reescribe con la ortografía correcta.
1.“I tink dis is de best.” →
2.“Tank you for everyting.” →
How did you do? Did you check the answers?
¿Qué tal? ¿Has mirado las soluciones al final?
✓ locked in — No notes needed
GRABADO A FUEGO
I put my tongue between my teeth for TH.
Pongo la lengua entre los dientes para la TH.
I can do quiet TH and buzzy TH.
Sé hacer la TH suave y la TH con zumbido.
I chanted the rhyme out loud till it stuck.
Canté el ritmo en voz alta hasta que se me quedó.
I said the sounds out loud, not just in my head.
Dije los sonidos en voz alta, no solo en mi cabeza.
I can hear the difference now, not only see it.
Ahora oigo la diferencia, no solo la veo.
Woo-hoo — certified language genius. .
¡Toma ya! Genio del inglés, sin mentir.