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TH tongue twisters

Tongue twisters for both TH sounds, as in “think” and as in “this”, for clear diction. At speed, TH easily turns into S, F, T or D. Keep the tip of the tongue lightly between the teeth and let the air through: for the TH in “think”, air only; for the TH in “this”, add your voice. Go slowly at first.

If a sound doesn't come out at all, start with a speech therapist: tongue twisters polish a sound you already have, they don't build it from scratch.

Short tongue twisters for TH

  1. Three free throws.
  2. Thin sticks, thick bricks.
  3. Tom threw Tim three thumbtacks.
  4. The north path is smoother than the south path.
  5. Keith's birthday is the thirteenth of this month.
  6. Six thick thistle sticks. Six thick thistles stick.
  7. This thing, that thing, these things, those things.
  8. Thirty-three thousand feathers on a thrush's throat.
  9. Both athletes thought the fifth lap was the toughest.
  10. Neither brother thinks the other is worth the bother.

Medium tongue twisters for TH

  1. Thirty thirsty sailors sailed south, though the weather was rough.
  2. Thank the other three brothers of their father's mother's brother's side.
  3. Thursday's math test was the third this month and the thirtieth this year.
  4. Thea's mother smoothed the thick cloth with both hands, then set the table.
  5. Their father thought that three months was a long time to gather the money.
  6. The author thought through both themes, then threw in three other thoughts.
  7. Seth bathes the youngest, then dresses them, then reads them three short stories.
  8. The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.

Hard tongue twisters for TH

  1. Beth thanked the three thoughtful authors, though none of them thought their thick third book was worth the thanks.
  2. Though the path through the northern hills was thick with thorns, Ethan and Ruth kept walking without once thinking of turning back.
  3. The thunderstorm threatened the north of the town, so the three of them gathered their things and drove south through the heavy rain.
  4. Every month, their math teacher shows the thirty students three ways to prove the same theorem, then asks them which method they prefer.
  5. Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb.
  6. I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn't the thought I thought I thought. If the thought I thought I thought had been the thought I thought, I wouldn't have thought so much.
  7. Whether the weather be fine or whether the weather be not, whether the weather be cold or whether the weather be hot, we'll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not.

How to practice tongue twisters

  1. Slowly, syllable by syllable, with exaggerated precision: every ending, every consonant.
  2. Normal pace. Say it two or three times, perfectly clean. If a sound blurs, go back one step.
  3. Louder, as if someone is listening from across the room. Same pace, same clarity.
  4. Faster, but only up to the speed where it stays clean. Three times in a row without a stumble.
  5. Delivery: full voice, with emotion, as if on stage. Then take the next tongue twister.

Speed is a by-product of clarity. Move up a step only when you sound perfect on the current one.

More tongue twisters

More in the article: How to stop mumbling when you talk: a daily practice plan

Practice with a timer

In DramaLab, the speed ladder is an exercise: it gives you tongue twisters one by one, walks you up the five steps and keeps time. No sign-up needed.

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