Minimal pair · General American
English /ð/ vs /d/They or day?
Match the first consonant: /ð/ as in they or /d/ as in day. X has a different ending but shares one initial sound category.
Practice these sounds/ð/
The ð category
Listen for the target sound in each word.
As inthey
/d/
A voiced tongue closure
Compare this opening consonant with /t/ while keeping the rest of the word out of the decision.
As inday
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Match the first consonant: /ð/ as in they or /d/ as in day. X has a different ending but shares one initial sound category.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordthey
/ðeɪ/people or things already mentionedthen
/ðɛn/at that timethough
/ðoʊ/althoughthis
/ðɪs/this; singular demonstrativethese
/ðiz/these; plural demonstrativeday
/deɪ/a period of 24 hoursden
/dɛn/an animal’s shelterdough
/doʊ/a flour mixture prepared for bakingdip
/dɪp/put briefly into liquiddie
/daɪ/one numbered cube used in games10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.