When I was 23, I worked with a dialect coach in NYC.
One of the first few things she gave me was a list of phrases containing the /th/ sound.
I can still hear her voice in my head (I actually have it somewhere on a cassette tape) saying: “Not in-DE, in-ththththththththe!” with her warm, vibrating /th/ sound. I remember thinking, as I was hurting my tongue working on these practices, Oh crap, this entire language is just one big tongue twister…!
Yes, there are a lot of difficult sound combinations that are challenging for non-native speakers, especially when it comes to consonants we don’t have in our primary language.
In this week’s lesson, I want to show you a great way to simplify and improve pronunciation of the /th/ consonant sound, especially when it appears in difficult phrases.
Now that you’ve watched the video, here’s the daily practice that will help you with TH transitions.
Practice the following consonant transitions:
Pronounce the first consonant sound (t,d,n or l) and shift immediately to the /th/ sound. Keep your tongue connected to the upper palate (if you release it, you’ll hear a vowel sound – something you want to avoid). The /th/ sound should be long.
nnn-thththththth (as in: month, in this, when the)
lll-ththththththth (as in: will they, all that)
ttt-thththth (as in: at the, get them)
ddd-ththth (as in: good thing, width)
And reverse it:
thththth-nnn
thththth-lll
ththth-ttt
thththth-dd
If you have any questions, please post them as a comment below this video.
Good luck,
And get your tongue going!
Hadar
16 Responses
The best way to improve our english is here with the Hadar.
Thank a lot for all…
Hi Hadar. This video on tricks to move from consonant to TH was helpful. But I was wondering if you had lists of words I can practice?
Like good thing
All that
And also reverse too. Like moving th to consonants.
Would love to get them if you have. Thank you!
thank you Hadar for you to simplify the Th sound to me because it was so complicated to make transition from d Th or specially when Th is in the middle
Hello Adar, you are so awesome thank you for your time.
Hi hadar I’m a 57 year old man hwo is taking the train now and hopfully he is going to enjoy the journey he has to tell you that he have been a litle big lost taking differents train geting in and geting out
As you know there are a lot the teacher doing this job but I’ve being spending my time listening and watching videos and I have to say there are a lot the good teacher but what you are doing and your method is exactly what I have being locking for since I got this contry I’m now living in Miami thanks for your time
Thank you, Leonardo. I’m so happy to hear that. All the best
A lot of thanks dear Hadar!
I love your way of teaching 🙂
I’m from Rishikesh (yoga capital of the world) India. Lots of love from India .
I’ve never seen a English teacher like you.
You are awesome great
Great video! I have been told that I have a very good command of the language, almost to the point that I can fool native speakers into thinking that they are speaking with a native speaker. The only thing that will remind people that I´m not a native speaker is the following:
the /th/ sound in the middle of a syllable. For example another sounds like anoder, thirsty sounds like tursty.
Thank you so much for the video, and I´m definitely going to practice on a daily basis until I get it.
Frank
Firts of all i want to say that I really love your channel in youtube.
Could you make a video explaining how can I say undoubtedly?
thank you.
Hello,
Your teachings are excellent.
Thank you
Sunny George
Hello
Let me tell you that the way you teach is excellent better than a cold beer in summer time..
IN A couple of minutes I learned how to pronounce the TH I HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS HOW TO DO IT BUT YOURS THE BEST OF THE BEST.
Hello Hadar
Let me say that you´re an excellent teacher. I´ve been watching a lot of your videos, and let me say that they are great.
See you.
RUI MARTINS
BRAZIL
Thanks again, Eslam. See you on Tuesdays:)
you rock. I love your way so much 🙂
you are my dream teacher cuz you made English more easier 🙂