Some English sounds do not exist in other languages — so many learners find them really tricky! In this module you will practise four of the most difficult ones.
The four sounds in this module:
👅 /θ/ — voiceless TH — as in think, three, bath
👅 /ð/ — voiced TH — as in the, this, mother
💧 /w/ — W sound — as in wet, wine, swim
🎵 /ŋ/ — NG sound — as in sing, ring, long
/θ/
voiceless TH
as in "think"
/ð/
voiced TH
as in "this"
/w/
W sound
as in "wet"
/ŋ/
NG sound
as in "sing"
👆 Click any card to hear the sound
Why are these hard? Most languages do not have TH sounds (/θ/ or /ð/). The /ŋ/ sound never appears at the start of English words — only the middle or end. And many learners mix up /w/ with /v/ or other sounds.
The TH Sounds
Voiceless /θ/ and Voiced /ð/
The letters TH can make two different sounds. The only difference is whether your voice vibrates!
How to make TH: Put the tip of your tongue gently between your teeth (or just behind your top front teeth). Blow air out. Now hum — if your throat vibrates, you are making /ð/. If it is just air, you are making /θ/.
/θ/ — no vibration
Just air through your teeth.
think
/θɪŋk/
three
/θriː/
thin
/θɪn/
bath
/bɑːθ/
tooth
/tuːθ/
/ð/ — voice vibrates!
Your throat hums while you blow.
the
/ðə/
this
/ðɪs/
that
/ðæt/
mother
/ˈmʌðə/
breathe
/briːð/
⚡ Common mix-ups — can you hear the difference?
think
/θɪŋk/
↔
sink
/sɪŋk/
thin
/θɪn/
↔
tin
/tɪn/
then
/ðen/
↔
den
/den/
The W Sound
The /w/ Sound
The /w/ sound is made by rounding your lips into a small circle — like you are about to whistle or say "oo". Then let your voice flow out smoothly.
Tip: Start with your lips in a tight round shape (like /uː/), then open your mouth as you speak. Do NOT let your top teeth touch your bottom lip — that would make /v/ instead!
Examples of /w/:
wet
/wet/
wine
/waɪn/
swim
/swɪm/
word
/wɜːd/
away
/əˈweɪ/
queen
/kwiːn/
⚡ /w/ vs /v/ — a very common mix-up!
wine
/waɪn/
↔
vine
/vaɪn/
west
/west/
↔
vest
/vest/
wet
/wet/
↔
vet
/vet/
/w/ lips are ROUND. /v/ teeth touch lip.
Say "oooo" then open your mouth → wet ✔
Touch your top teeth to your bottom lip → vet ✔
The NG Sound
The /ŋ/ (NG) Sound
The /ŋ/ sound is made at the back of your mouth — like /n/, but with the back of your tongue pressed up instead of the tip. You will never find it at the start of an English word!
How to make /ŋ/: Say a long "nnnnn" sound. Now, without stopping, slide the sound to the back of your mouth. Feel the back of your tongue press up? That is /ŋ/! It is the sound in "singing" and "ringing".
Examples of /ŋ/ at the end of words:
sing
/sɪŋ/
ring
/rɪŋ/
long
/lɒŋ/
king
/kɪŋ/
thing
/θɪŋ/
wrong
/rɒŋ/
⚡ /n/ vs /ŋ/ — hear the difference!
sin
/sɪn/
↔
sing
/sɪŋ/
ran
/ræn/
↔
rang
/ræŋ/
win
/wɪn/
↔
wing
/wɪŋ/
Important: /ŋ/ also appears before /k/ and /g/ — as in sink /sɪŋk/, finger /ˈfɪŋɡə/, and angry /ˈæŋɡri/. Listen:
In Real Sentences
Hear Them in Context!
Listen to these sentences. Can you spot each difficult sound?
TH Sounds /θ/ and /ð/
"I think it is three o'clock."
"This is the right answer."
"Please brush your teeth every day."
W Sound /w/
"The weather is wet today."
"Would you like some water?"
NG Sound /ŋ/
"She is singing a beautiful song."
"The king walked along the path."
"I am thinking and planning ahead."
Notice: Words ending in -ing (thinking, singing, planning) always use the /ŋ/ sound! This is one of the most common uses in everyday English.
Speaking Practice
Record Yourself!
Listen to the example, then try saying it yourself. Record your voice and compare — do the difficult sounds come out right?
Practice: TH sounds — think / this / three
Practice: W vs V — wine / vine / west / vest
Practice: NG sound — sin / sing / ran / rang
Tips:
• /θ/: tongue tip between teeth, blow air — no voice, no lip contact.
• /ð/: same position, but add your voice so your throat vibrates.
• /w/: round lips first, then open. Never let teeth touch lip!
• /ŋ/: press the back of your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Hum!
Quiz
Quiz Time!
Let's check what you learned about difficult English sounds. Choose the best answer!
✓
Module 6 Complete!
You mastered the four most difficult English sounds — /θ/, /ð/, /w/, and /ŋ/. That is a huge achievement!
What you learned:
/θ/ — tongue between teeth, just air (think, three, bath)
/ð/ — same but your voice vibrates (this, the, mother)
/w/ — round lips, no teeth on lip (wet, wine, swim)
/ŋ/ — back of tongue up (sing, ring, long, thinking)
