Like this article? Share it!:
Today I have a guest writer, Sean Morgan, professional English tutor and American accent pronunciation specialist. He currently coaches over 30 students on italki from every continent (except Antarctica!).
Read on to see Sean's article on grammar and pronunciation rules for the most used word in the English language: 'THE.'
So, you want to improve your pronunciation in English, but you don't know where to start. I’m happy to say that there are universal ways to improve your English pronunciation.
Although each language learner has a unique set of challenges with pronunciation according to their native language and personal abilities, I have noticed a lot of commonalities among non-native English language learners regarding pronunciation.
Pronunciation is a vast subject and cannot be covered in one article, so I will give you a great tip that can remove a sizable portion of your accent in a short amount of time: focusing on the word 'the.'
A SHORTCUT TO BETTER PRONUNCIATION
Perhaps you have heard that a shortcut to language acquisition is to focus on the words that are used most often by native speakers. The same rule applies to pronunciation.
By now you already know the meaning of 'the,' the most used word in the English language.
But perhaps you don't know its two versions of pronunciation. Being American, I will focus on the American accent; however, the differences between the American and British pronunciation of 'the' are not very significant.
STARTING AT THE BEGINNING: PRONOUNCING 'TH'
Let's start at the beginning of the word 'the' with the "th" sound. This can be a difficult sound for non-native English speakers.
There are two version of the TH sound. We will focus on the vibratory version, not the soft version used in the word "thank". This vibratory version has a buzzing quality similar to "z" or "v". It involves several steps. I will describe them in written form, but it may be easier to watch the following video:
1. First, stick your tongue out of your mouth slightly. Your mouth should open but your tongue should rest low in your mouth. The tip of your tongue passes the bottom row of teeth and should rest gently on them.
2. Next, you rest the top row of teeth gently on your tongue (near the tip). Your lips and tongue remain in a relaxed resting state. It's important not to create tension or shape your mouth in any way. Your lips are separated, but not pursed.
3. The third and last step is to force a breath of air (without mouth movement) so that there is a vibration between the top row of teeth and your tongue. I have three tips to make this effective:
THE TWO PRONUNCIATIONS OF 'THE'
The most common pronunciation of "the" is with an "uh" vowel sound. This is the same vowel sound that is in "run" or "fun". Try pronouncing the combination of "th" and "uh" right now. The sound should be very low in the throat.
The second vowel sound is the long "e" vowel sound such as in the words "bee" or "see". This sound is not as low in the throat. It may be easier if you force a smile with your mouth for this sound.
So, how does one know which way to pronounce this common word? The rule is easy, but the habit may be difficult to start, especially if you have only been using one pronunciation instead of the two different versions. Just remember:
If the word following "the" starts with a vowel, such as "apple", you use the "ee" sound. If it starts with a consonant, such as "car", you use the "uh" sound.
the apple = "thee apple"
the car = "thuh car"
Many native speakers do not follow this rule every time (but they should). It is an important rule, but one that is not followed strictly.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE
If a person is searching for a word to say in their mind, they may start saying "thee" and decide on a word that starts with a consonant. By that time, it is too late to go back in time and choose the correct pronunciation of the article.
Another exception to the rule that I will mention is that many English speakers will use "thee" for emphasis to describe that someone is the best at something. Example: Michael Jordan is "thee" basketball player of the 1990's. Or Vera Wang is "thee" wedding dress designer for celebrities.
Thank you for reading. Remember, your effort in “thuh” practice is “thee” only thing that matters. ;)
How do YOU usually pronounce the word 'the'?
Learn to speak real, conversational American English with Sabrina, an American English teacher.
Interested in online
Learn more here:
The Best Podcasts for Improving Your English
Are You Super Busy? Here's How to Find Time to Study English (Even When You Are a Busy Professional)
Essential Steps to Conversational Fluency
Talking About Business - Are You Pronouncing 'Business' Correctly?
You'll Never Guess How Staying Silent Can Improve Your English
How to Pronounce ‘Internet’ in American English
...visit for more free
English articles, videos and resources