/t/ vs /θ/ minimal pairs
/t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop; /θ/ is a voiceless dental fricative. Phoneme has 8 word pairs to practice this contrast, each with native-speaker audio.
| /t/ | /θ/ |
|---|---|
| tin | thin |
| tick | thick |
| tie | thigh |
| tree | three |
| tread | thread |
| tank | thank |
| team | theme |
| true | threw |
How to teach this contrast
- Listen and point. Play each word and have learners point to or repeat the symbol they hear.
- Say and check. Learners say one word from a pair; a partner (or you) identifies which one.
- Drill it. Use Phoneme's Train mode minimal-pair drill for randomized, self-checking practice.