TH Digraph: Word List & Practice
TH Digraph words follow one repeating pattern, so a child who can read one of them has most of what they need to read the rest. This list has 14 kindergarten–grade 1-level words plus 4 decodable sentences. Practice them out loud — the most common error is substituting an f or d sound for th.
- this
- that
- then
- thin
- bath
- math
- with
- teeth
- three
- thumb
- think
- cloth
- moth
- path
Practice these words out loud
Have your child read these sentences to Word Wiz AI. It listens and shows exactly which sounds they missed, not just whether the word was right. Free, no sign-up needed to try.
Try these out loudDecodable Sentences
Every word in these sentences uses sounds your child has already learned, so they can be read by decoding rather than guessing.
- This bath is with three.
- Think about the thin moth.
- That math path has a thumb.
- Brush your teeth, then bathe.
How to Teach TH Digraph Words
The digraph 'th' is unusual because it actually represents two different sounds in English, and children need to hear both: a 'voiced' th where the vocal cords buzz (as in 'this,' 'that,' 'then') and an 'unvoiced' th with no buzz (as in 'thin,' 'bath,' 'three'). You do not need to teach the technical labels — just have your child put a hand on their throat while saying 'this' and then 'thin' and notice the difference in vibration.
Because 'th' words are so frequent — 'this,' 'that,' 'then,' and 'with' are among the most common words in English — accuracy here matters more than almost any other digraph. If your child substitutes an 'f' or 'd' sound for 'th' (a common developmental pattern, saying 'dis' for 'this' or 'baf' for 'bath'), that is often just a normal articulation stage that resolves with age, but mention it to a speech-language professional if it persists much past age seven.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Substituting an f or d sound for th
- Not distinguishing between the voiced and unvoiced versions of th
- Trying to sound out 't' and 'h' as two separate sounds