TH Sound Worksheets: Free Printable TH Words by Position
Free TH sound worksheets: TH words at the start, middle, and end of words, plus a voiced-TH list (“this,” “mother”) — printable as a worksheet, flashcards, or a coloring page. TH is the last English sound to develop (voiceless TH by 6;0–6;11), so check age and accent before practicing. Use them 3–5 minutes a day.
About the TH sound
TH is a visible sound — the tongue tip peeks out between the teeth — which makes it a good worksheet sound once your child is old enough. It comes in two versions: voiceless TH (“think,” “bath”) and voiced TH (“this,” “mother”). The generator prints voiceless TH; the voiced list below is for practice at home.
Start with initial voiceless TH, then final, then medial — the middle of a word is usually hardest because the sound is squeezed between two others. ASHA describes treatment as carrying a sound from words into phrases, sentences, and conversation once it is reliable.1
TH words by position (initial, medial, final)
| Position | Words |
|---|---|
| Initial (TH at the start) | thumb · think · thank · three · thin · thick · thorn · thirty · thunder · thirsty |
| Medial (TH in the middle) | bathtub · toothbrush · birthday · nothing · something · panther · athlete · python |
| Final (TH at the end) | bath · mouth · teeth · tooth · path · math · moth · north · cloth · earth |
| Voiced TH (any position) | this · that · they · there · mother · father · brother · feather · weather · smooth |
TH practice words by word position.
TH phrases and sentences
| Level | Practice |
|---|---|
| Phrases | thank you · three thumbs · thick thread · bath time · a thin moth |
| Carrier sentence | “I think I see ___.” (a thumb, a tooth, a moth) |
| Sentences | “Thirty thirsty birds sat on the path.” · “My tooth hurt on Thursday.” |
| Voiced TH sentences | “This is my brother.” · “They went there together.” |
Once TH is clear in single words, move up to these.
TH minimal pairs
Minimal pairs differ by one sound, so a swap changes the meaning — the contrast technique ASHA calls minimal oppositions.1
| Swap you hear | Word pairs |
|---|---|
| F for TH (“fumb”) | thin / fin · three / free · thought / fought · death / deaf |
| S for TH (“sink” for “think”) | think / sink · thick / sick · thumb / sum · mouth / mouse · path / pass |
| D for voiced TH (“dey” for “they”) | they / day · then / den · though / dough · there / dare |
Pairs for the common TH swaps.2
Getting a clear TH before the worksheet
- 1Look in a mirror together and let the tongue tip peek out between the teeth — just a little, not a big stick-out.
- 2Blow gently over the tongue: a soft, windy “thhhh,” like a quiet flat tire.
- 3Add a vowel after it: “thhh-ee,” “thhh-oo,” then the word: “three,” “thumb.”
- 4For voiced TH, keep the same tongue and turn the voice on — your child should feel the tongue tickle.
Then use the sheet a few minutes at a time, most days: in a randomized trial of 54 preschoolers, three sessions a week beat the same total amount spread over once-weekly sessions.4
TH practice games
- Tongue peek-a-boo: show the tongue only on TH words in a story.
- Thumbs up: your child gives a thumbs-up every time they hear TH in a word you say.
- Birthday party: name things at a pretend party — three candles, a thank-you, a birthday hat.
- Feather blow: a feather on the table should move gently on a soft “thhh,” not fly away.
Play keeps the repetitions coming; ASHA’s suggestions for parents center on talking, reading, and playing with the sounds you want your child to hear.5
What to listen for
- F for TH (“fumb”) — very common, and often an accent feature.
- S for TH (“sink” for “think”) — note whether S is clear elsewhere.
- T or D for TH (“tink,” “dey”) — developmental stopping, or a dialect feature.
- A clear TH in words but not in sentences — normal; sentences are harder.
When a worksheet is the wrong tool
Age context matters more for TH than any other sound. In US norms, voiced TH is acquired at 5;0–5;11 and voiceless TH at 6;0–6;11 at the 90% criterion — the very last consonant. Before 6, a TH worksheet is optional practice, not a fix for a problem.3
ASHA lists stopping of voiced TH (“dat” for “that”) as a developmental pattern usually gone by about 5. A child who stops many sounds — not just TH — is showing a pattern worth an SLP’s look.2
See an SLP if
Your child is past about 7 and TH is still not emerging (and it is not an accent feature); several sounds are affected; your child is hard for unfamiliar adults to understand; or weeks of consistent practice show no change on your checklist.
ASHA ProFind lists certified speech-language pathologists.6
Before practicing TH at all, listen to the adults around your child. In several English dialects TH is routinely said as F, T, or D, and ASHA’s position is that no dialectal variety of English is a disorder or a pathological form of speech.7
Print the TH worksheet
Pick TH in the generator, choose a position and an age band, and print a worksheet, flashcards, or a coloring page — no account needed. In SpeechStep, the same words can be practiced with listen-and-compare; an instant AI check is offered for R only.
Print TH worksheets
Choose TH, a position, and an age band — then print a worksheet, flashcards, or a coloring page.
Frequently asked questions
Should my child practice voiced or voiceless TH first?＋
Voiceless TH (“think,” “bath”) is usually easier to start with because there is no voice to coordinate — just a gentle stream of air over the tongue. Once it is reliable, add the voice for “this” and “mother.” In US norms the voiced one actually arrives a little earlier (5;0–5;11 vs 6;0–6;11), so follow your child’s lead.
Which TH words should my child practice first?＋
Start with voiceless TH at the beginning of words — thumb, think, three — because the tongue peeking out is easy to see and copy. Move to the ends of words (bath, mouth) and then the middle (toothbrush, birthday). Practice voiced TH (this, mother) separately.
At what age should a child say TH?＋
TH is the last English consonant to develop. In Crowe & McLeod’s review of US children, voiced TH (“this”) was acquired at 5;0–5;11 and voiceless TH (“think”) at 6;0–6;11 at the 90% criterion. A 5-year-old who says “fumb” for “thumb” is usually on schedule.
My child says F for TH — should I worry?＋
Usually not before 6 or 7. And in several English dialects, TH is routinely pronounced as F, T, or D; ASHA’s position is that no dialectal variety of English is a disorder. If the adults around your child say “fink,” so may your child — that is an accent, not an error.
Put this into practice today
Try the free print th worksheets, or start daily AI speech practice — every child takes one SpeechStep at a time.
References
7 sources from authoritative bodies. Last reviewed October 2026.
- 1.ASHASpeech Sound Disorders: Articulation and Phonology — Practice Portal page.
- 2.ASHASelected Phonological Patterns — Practice Portal page.
- 3.Peer-reviewedCrowe & McLeod — Children’s English Consonant Acquisition in the United States: A Review — Systematic review (AJSLP), 2020.
- 4.Peer-reviewedAllen — Intervention Efficacy and Intensity for Children With Speech Sound Disorder — Randomized controlled trial (JSLHR), 2013.
- 5.ASHASuggestions for Parents: Speech and Language Development — Consumer guide.
- 6.ASHAASHA ProFind: Find a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist — Referral directory.