Minimal pair · General American
English /θ/ vs /s/Thin or sin?
A primary Japanese-listener study found substantial /θ–s/ confusion across nonsense-syllable contexts. Use real-word initial and final sets as a transparent editorial extension, not as the published stimuli.
Practice these soundsThe unvoiced th sound
The opening noise is softer and more diffuse than the sharper hiss of /s/.
An unvoiced hiss
Listen for the narrow, hissing sound in the target consonant.
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Thin/sin and thick/sick share the same vowel. Thigh/sigh changes the vowel environment while keeping the same consonant contrast.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
A common trap
The written th in these words is /θ/. English also has a voiced th, as in this; that is a different contrast.
Sound examples
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