“Th” sounds are formed by placing the tongue between the teeth or slightly sticking out, which are essential for clear and accurate speech. Some people may have difficulty correctly producing the “th” sounds, impacting their communication ability. It is referred to as a “th” sound disorder, a “th” sound articulation disorder, or simply a “th” sound problem. Individuals with this difficulty may substitute “th” sounds with other sounds, such as “f” or “v,” or they may distort the sound in some way. Stories used for th words speech therapy can help individuals improve their pronunciation of “th” sounds.
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How to pronounce Th?
Pronouncing the “th” sound correctly involves placing the tip of the tongue between the upper and lower front teeth or slightly sticking it out between the teeth, depending on the specific “th” sound you’re trying to produce.
For the voiced “th” sound
- Start with your mouth slightly open and your teeth slightly apart.
- Place the tip of your tongue between your upper and lower front teeth.
- Release a steady flow of air through your mouth and simultaneously vibrate your vocal cords.
The resulting sound should be a soft “th” sound, similar to a buzzing sound.
For the voiceless “th” sound
- Start with your mouth slightly open and your teeth slightly apart.
- Place the tip of your tongue lightly between your upper and lower front teeth.
- Release a steady flow of air through your mouth without vibrating your vocal cords.
The resulting sound should be a soft “th” sound, similar to a gentle blowing of air.
It’s important to practice these sounds slowly and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable and confident. With practice, you can improve your ability to produce the “th” sound correctly.
Voiced Th sounds vs. Voiceless Th Sounds
The voiced “th” sound is represented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) by the symbol [ð]. Some examples of words that contain a voiced “th” sound are “this,” “that,” “the,” “either,” “father,” and “other.”
In contrast, the unvoiced “th” sound is represented by the symbol [θ] and is produced in a similar way but without vocal cord vibration. Examples of words with voiceless “th” sounds include “think,” “thank,” “math,” and “both.”
For the Boys with more Voiced Th sounds

The Thunderstorm
Ethan and his friends were out playing in the park on a hot summer day when suddenly, they heard a loud rumbling sound. It was thunder! They quickly realized that a thunderstorm was approaching, and they needed to find shelter.
The boys ran to a nearby treehouse, hoping to stay dry until the storm passed. But as they huddled together in the small space, the thunder grew louder, and the wind began to howl. Ethan could feel his heart beating fast with fear.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck the treehouse, causing it to shake violently. The boys screamed in terror as they clung to each other for safety. But then, they heard a strange sound coming from outside.
Ethan peeked out the window and saw that the storm had blown down a tree, blocking their only exit. The boys were trapped!
They realized that they needed to find another way out. Ethan suggested that they climb up to the roof of the treehouse and see if they could find a way to jump to safety. The other boys agreed, and they began to climb up the treehouse walls.
As they reached the roof, the wind, and rain lashed at them, making it hard to see. But they persevered and found a sturdy branch that they could use to swing to safety. One by one, they jumped, their hearts pounding with fear and adrenaline.
Finally, Ethan made the leap, and the boys landed safely on the ground. They looked back at the treehouse, which was now in shambles, and breathed a sigh of relief. They had made it through the thunderstorm, and they had done it together.
As they walked home, soaked and tired but victorious, Ethan knew that he had faced his fear of thunderstorms and had come out stronger for it. He was grateful for his friends and the adventure they had shared.
The Bicycle Race
Tommy was a skilled bicycle racer who loved nothing more than the thrill of competition. He trained tirelessly, pushing himself to his limits every day in order to prepare for the biggest race of the year – the Thunderdome Classic.
Tommy’s biggest rival in the race was a tough kid named Thad. Thad was known for his brute strength and fearless attitude, but Tommy was determined to beat him.
On the day of the race, Tommy lined up at the starting line, his heart racing with excitement. He could feel the thunderous roar of the crowd as he took his place on the track.
The race started, and Tommy quickly took the lead. Thad was close behind him, but Tommy was determined to stay ahead.
As they rounded the first bend, Thad made a move to pass Tommy. Tommy gritted his teeth and pushed harder, feeling the wind rushing past him as he pedaled with all his might.
Thad tried to pass him again, but Tommy blocked him off, his determination driving him forward. He could hear the crowd cheering him on, their voices like thunder in his ears.
As they approached the final stretch, Tommy knew that he was going to win. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he crossed the finish line, the thunderous applause of the crowd ringing in his ears.
Tommy had won the Thunderdome Classic, and he had beaten Thad. He felt a surge of pride and accomplishment, knowing that all his hard work and determination had paid off.
As he accepted his trophy, Tommy knew that he had experienced the ultimate adventure – the adventure of pushing himself to his limits and achieving his dreams.
The Haunted House
On a dark and stormy night, three friends, Ethan, Matthew, and Nathan decided to explore the abandoned house on the edge of town. The house had been rumored to be haunted, but the boys didn’t believe in ghosts and were eager to investigate.
As they approached the house, they could hear the sound of the wind howling through the trees and the thunder rumbling in the distance. The house loomed before them, its windows shattered, and its roof caved in.
Undeterred, the boys bravely entered the house, their flashlights illuminating the dusty interior. They could hear the creaking of the old floorboards beneath their feet and the scurrying of rats in the walls.
As they explored the first floor, they discovered an old library filled with dusty books and an antique chess set. But as they climbed the stairs to the second floor, they heard a strange sound coming from the darkness above.
The boys froze in fear as they saw a shadowy figure move across the hallway. They heard a low, guttural growl that sent chills down their spines.
Suddenly, a thunderclap shook the house, causing the boys to jump. But they knew they had to keep going. They followed the sound to a room at the end of the hallway, where they found an old phonograph playing scratchy music.
But as they approached the phonograph, they heard a menacing voice say, “You should not have come here.” The boys turned around to see a ghostly figure standing before them, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
The boys screamed and ran down the stairs, their hearts pounding with fear. They burst out of the house and into the stormy night, panting and gasping for breath.
As they looked back at the house, they could see the ghostly figure staring at them from an upstairs window. They knew that they had experienced a true adventure, one that they would never forget.
The Thin Ice
It was a cold winter day, and the frozen lake was covered in a thin layer of ice. Tim and his friends were skating on the ice, laughing and having a great time. They were skating fast, their blades slicing through the ice with ease.
Suddenly, they heard a cracking sound beneath their feet. They looked down to see that the ice was starting to crack, and they knew they had to get off the lake as quickly as possible.
But as they turned to skate towards the shore, the ice gave way beneath them. They plunged into the icy water, their bodies shivering with cold.
Tim’s friend, Ethan, had been close to the edge of the lake, and he managed to climb out of the water onto the shore. He called out to the others, urging them to swim towards him.
But the water was freezing, and the boys were struggling to stay afloat. They could feel their energy draining away as they tried to swim toward safety.
Just when it seemed like they were about to give up, they saw a rope being thrown toward them. It was Nathan, Tim’s other friend, who had managed to grab hold of a nearby rope and throw it toward them.
Tim and his friends grabbed onto the rope, pulling themselves toward safety. They finally made it to the shore, shivering and gasping for breath.
As they lay on the shore, wrapped in blankets and drinking hot cocoa, they knew that they had experienced a true adventure. They had faced danger and overcome it, relying on their bravery and quick thinking to save themselves.
For the Girls with more Voiceless Th Sound

The Three Thirsty Thieves
Tara and her friends, Heather and Samantha, were on a camping trip in the woods. As they sat around the campfire, they heard a strange sound coming from the nearby bushes. They decided to investigate, but as they approached the bushes, they saw three thieves hiding behind them.
The thieves were wearing black masks and carrying bags of stolen goods. They looked thirsty and exhausted as if they had been on the run for days.
Tara and her friends knew that they had to act quickly if they were going to catch the thieves. They whispered to each other, coming up with a plan.
Heather and Samantha crept around the back of the thieves while Tara distracted them with a loud cough. When the thieves turned around to see who was making the noise, Heather and Samantha pounced, grabbing the bags of stolen goods.
The thieves tried to run away, but Tara quickly caught up with them. She tackled the first thief to the ground, and Samantha and Heather followed suit with the other two.
As they wrestled with the thieves, they could hear the sound of sirens in the distance. They knew that the police were on their way, and they had to hold the thieves until they arrived.
Finally, the police arrived, and they arrested the three thieves. Tara and her friends had successfully caught the thieves and saved the day.
As they celebrated around the campfire that night, they knew that they had experienced a true adventure. They had relied on their bravery and quick thinking to catch the thieves, and they had succeeded.
Thalia, the Math Master
Thalia was a thin, thoughtful girl who loved math. She spent most of her days solving tough equations and figuring out tricky problems. Her favorite thing to do was to challenge herself, and she always worked hard to improve.
One day, Thalia heard about a math competition that was being held in the city. She was determined to enter, but she knew that it wouldn’t be easy. She had to prepare herself thoroughly and practice constantly.
Thalia began to study every day, focusing on her weaknesses and working to improve her skills. She practiced with her friends, who were also math enthusiasts, and they encouraged her to keep going.
Finally, the day of the competition arrived. Thalia was nervous but determined. She walked into the room, and her eyes widened at the sight of all the other brilliant mathletes around her.
Thalia took a deep breath and began to solve the problems one by one. She could feel the sweat on her forehead and the tightness in her throat as she worked through each challenge. But she didn’t give up.
After a long and grueling day, the competition came to an end. Thalia waited anxiously for the results to be announced. And to her surprise, she won first place!
Thalia was thrilled. She had worked so hard, and it had all paid off. She couldn’t wait to see what new challenges lay ahead of her. She knew that with hard work and determination, anything was possible.
Beth’s Discovery
Beth was a bright, ambitious girl who loved to think. She was always asking questions and exploring new ideas. Her friends often came to her for advice, and she loved to help them find solutions to their problems.
One day, Beth was on a walk in the woods when she saw a path she had never noticed before. She decided to follow it and see where it led.
As she walked, she heard the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs under her feet. The path became narrower and more winding until, finally, she came to a clearing.
In the center of the clearing was a small, trembling bird with a broken wing. Beth knew she had to help the bird, but she didn’t know how. She thought for a moment and then remembered a technique she had learned in science class.
She carefully picked up the bird and gently wrapped its wing with a splint. She then placed the bird in a safe spot and waited for it to heal.
Days went by, and Beth visited the bird every day to check on its progress. She watched as it slowly regained its strength, and eventually, it was able to fly away.
Beth felt proud of herself for helping the bird, and she knew that she could use her knowledge and curiosity to help others in the future.
From that day on, Beth made it a point to explore new paths and learn new things. She knew that there was a whole world out there waiting to be discovered, and she was excited to be a part of it.
Written by: Sittie Ashia Said
Edited and Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Juhairah Magarang-Said