Phonics word list
Th words: voiced and unvoiced
In short
Th is a consonant digraph with two sounds. Unvoiced /th/ as in thin and bath is just air. Voiced /th/ as in this and mother adds the voice. Our checked list has 538 words with th.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 538
- By syllables
- one syllable: 216 · two syllables: 219 · three or more syllables: 103
- By position
- initial: 174 · medial: 280 · final: 84
- Taught in
- Lesson 46 in the sequence
One spelling, more than one sound
Most lists mix these up. We count each sound separately, so a student practicing one sound only sees words that make it.
| Sound | Example | Words | List |
|---|---|---|---|
| /th/ | both | 393 | This page |
| /th/ | the | 145 | This page |
Th words, most common first
Spelling units show how each word breaks into the letters that spell one sound; a_e is a vowel and silent e working together. Readable after is the first lesson where a student can sound out the whole word.
Initial position (at the start)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the | th·e | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 1 (heart word) |
| than | th·a·n | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 46 |
| that | th·a·t | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 46 |
| them | th·e·m | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 46 |
| then | th·e·n | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 46 |
| they | th·ey | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 17 (heart word) |
| thin | th·i·n | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| this | th·i·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 46 |
| thus | th·u·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 46 |
| thank | th·a·n·k | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 52 |
| their | th·eir | 1 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| there | th·e·r·e | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 24 (heart word) |
| these | th·e_e·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 57 |
| thing | th·i·ng | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 51 |
| think | th·i·n·k | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 52 |
| third | th·ir·d | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 81 |
| those | th·o_e·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 56 |
| three | th·r·ee | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 85 |
| threw | th·r·ew | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 91 |
| throw | th·r·ow | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 86 |
| thanks | th·a·n·k·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 52 |
| things | th·i·ng·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 51 |
| thinks | th·i·n·k·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 52 |
| though | th·ough | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 116 |
| threat | th·r·ea·t | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 94 |
| thrown | th·r·ow·n | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 86 |
| throws | th·r·ow·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 86 |
| thought | th·ough·t | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 116 |
| through | th·r·ough | 1 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| thoughts | th·ough·t·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 116 |
| thereby | th·e·r·e·b·y | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 67a |
| thinking | th·i·n·k·i·ng | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 65 |
| thousand | th·ou·s·a·n·d | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 96 |
| throwing | th·r·ow·i·ng | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 86 |
| therefore | th·e·r·e·f·ore | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 78 |
| thousands | th·ou·s·a·n·d·s | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 96 |
| throughout | th·r·ough·ou·t | 2 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| theory | th·e·or·y | 3 | /th/ | Lesson 111 |
| thoroughly | th·or·ough·l·y | 3 | /th/ | Lesson 116 |
| theoretical | th·e·or·e·t·i·c·a·l | 5 | /th/ | Lesson 111 |
| thy | th·y | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 73 |
| thee | th·ee | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 85 |
| thou | th·ou | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 96 |
| theft | th·e·f·t | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| theme | th·e_e·m | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 57 |
| thick | th·i·ck | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| thief | th·ie·f | 1 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| thous | th·ou·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 96 |
| thumb | th·u·mb | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 98 |
| theirs | th·eir·s | 1 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| themes | th·e_e·m·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 57 |
| thieve | th·ie·v·e | 1 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| thirst | th·ir·s·t | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 81 |
| thread | th·r·ea·d | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 94 |
| throat | th·r·oa·t | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 86 |
| thrust | th·r·u·s·t | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| thanked | th·a·n·k·ed | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 64 |
| thieves | th·ie·v·e·s | 1 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| threats | th·r·ea·t·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 94 |
| throats | th·r·oa·t·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 86 |
Medial position (in the middle)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| months | m·o·n·th·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 62 |
| other | o·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 50 (heart word) |
| author | au·th·or | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 111 |
| bother | b·o·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| either | ei·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| father | f·a·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 94 |
| gather | g·a·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| method | m·e·th·o·d | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 67b |
| mother | m·o·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 50 (heart word) |
| others | o·th·er·s | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 50 |
| rather | r·a·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| within | w·i·th·i·n | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 67a |
| worthy | w·or·th·y | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 82 |
| authors | au·th·or·s | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 111 |
| bothers | b·o·th·er·s | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| brother | b·r·o·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| farther | f·ar·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| further | f·ur·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 81 |
| healthy | h·ea·l·th·y | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 94 |
| methods | m·e·th·o·d·s | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 67b |
| neither | n·ei·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| nothing | n·o·th·i·ng | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 67b |
| weather | w·ea·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 94 |
| whether | wh·e·th·er | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| without | w·i·th·ou·t | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 96 |
| although | a·l·th·ough | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 116 |
| bothered | b·o·th·er·ed | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| farthest | f·ar·th·e·s·t | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 77 |
| furthest | f·ur·th·e·s·t | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 81 |
| southern | s·ou·th·er·n | 2 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| withdraw | w·i·th·d·r·aw | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 93 |
| something | s·o·m·e·th·i·ng | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 67a |
| worthwhile | w·or·th·wh·i_e·l | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 82 |
| another | a·n·o·th·er | 3 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| anything | a·n·y·th·i·ng | 3 | /th/ | Lesson 67a |
| together | t·o·g·e·th·er | 3 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| bothering | b·o·th·er·i·ng | 3 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| otherwise | o·th·er·w·i_e·s | 3 | /th/ | Lesson 67a |
| everything | e·v·e·r·y·th·i·ng | 3 | /th/ | Lesson 74 |
| forthcoming | f·or·th·c·o·m·i·ng | 3 | /th/ | Lesson 78 |
| altogether | a·l·t·o·g·e·th·er | 4 | /th/ | Lesson 93 |
| arithmetic | ar·i·th·m·e·t·i·c | 4 | /th/ | Lesson 111 |
| mathematics | m·a·th·e·m·a·t·i·c·s | 4 | /th/ | Lesson 67b |
| nevertheless | n·e·v·er·th·e·l·e·ss | 4 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| mathematical | m·a·th·e·m·a·t·i·c·a·l | 5 | /th/ | Lesson 67b |
| baths | b·a·th·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| myths | m·y·th·s | 1 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| paths | p·a·th·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| deaths | d·ea·th·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 94 |
| depths | d·e·p·th·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| truths | t·r·u·th·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 68 |
| breathe | b·r·ea·th·e | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 85 |
| clothed | c·l·o_e·th·d | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 64 |
| clothes | c·l·o_e·th·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 56 |
| lengths | l·e·ng·th·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 51 |
| breathed | b·r·ea·th·ed | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 85 |
| breathes | b·r·ea·th·e·s | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 85 |
| ethic | e·th·i·c | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 67b |
| ethics | e·th·i·c·s | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 67b |
| ethnic | e·th·n·i·c | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 67b |
Final position (at the end)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| both | b·o·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 68 |
| path | p·a·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| with | w·i·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 46 |
| death | d·ea·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 94 |
| depth | d·e·p·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| earth | ear·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 113 |
| faith | f·ai·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 84 |
| forth | f·or·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 78 |
| month | m·o·n·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 62 |
| mouth | m·ou·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 96 |
| north | n·or·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 78 |
| south | s·ou·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 96 |
| teeth | t·ee·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 85 |
| tooth | t·oo·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 90 |
| truth | t·r·u·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 68 |
| worth | w·or·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 82 |
| fourth | f·our·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 78 |
| growth | g·r·ow·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 86 |
| health | h·ea·l·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 94 |
| length | l·e·ng·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 51 |
| smooth | s·m·oo·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 90 |
| strength | s·t·r·e·ng·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 51 |
| underneath | u·n·d·er·n·ea·th | 3 | /th/ | Lesson 85 |
| bath | b·a·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| myth | m·y·th | 1 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| birth | b·ir·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 81 |
| cloth | c·l·o·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| fifth | f·i·f·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| sixth | s·i·x·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| smith | s·m·i·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| tenth | t·e·n·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| width | w·i·d·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| wrath | wr·a·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 98 |
| youth | y·ou·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 115 |
| breath | b·r·ea·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 94 |
| clothe | c·l·o_e·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 56 |
| eighth | eigh·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 114 |
| wealth | w·ea·l·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 94 |
| beneath | b·e·n·ea·th | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 85 |
| seventh | s·e·v·e·n·th | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 67b |
| bandwidth | b·a·n·d·w·i·d·th | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 67a |
| henceforth | h·e·n·c·e·f·or·th | 2 | /th/ | Lesson 78 |
| twentieth | t·w·e·n·t·i·e·th | 3 | /th/ | Not in the sequence |
| lath | l·a·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| moth | m·o·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| oath | oa·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 86 |
| bathe | b·a_e·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 54 |
| berth | b·er·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 80 |
| booth | b·oo·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 90 |
| broth | b·r·o·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| filth | f·i·l·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| froth | f·r·o·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 47 |
| girth | g·ir·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 81 |
| heath | h·ea·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 85 |
| lathe | l·a_e·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 54 |
| lithe | l·i_e·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 55 |
| loath | l·oa·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 86 |
| mirth | m·ir·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 81 |
| ninth | n·i·n·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 68 |
| sloth | s·l·o·th | 1 | /th/ | Lesson 68 |
When do these words become readable?
The lessons where the most words on this page become decodable. Words marked not in the sequence have a spelling the sequence never teaches as a pattern.
| Readable after | Words |
|---|---|
| Lesson 47 | 47 |
| Lesson 67a | 23 |
| Lesson 67b | 27 |
| Lesson 80 | 37 |
| Lesson 81 | 24 |
| Lesson 90 | 21 |
| Lesson 93 | 18 |
| Lesson 94 | 42 |
| Not in the sequence | 32 |
How do you teach th words?
Both sounds start the same way: tongue between the teeth. Have the student touch their throat. "Say thin. Now this. Feel the buzz in this? That's the voiced th." Teach the voiced sound with short, common words (this, that, the, then, with) and the unvoiced one with longer content words (thin, thick, math, bath). The sound column in the tables shows which one each word uses.
What mistake do students make with th words?
Younger students substitute /f/ or /d/ (fink for think, dis for this). That is speech development, not a reading problem, and it fades. For reading, the error to fix is saying /t/ /h/. Point to both letters and say, "Partners. Tongue out." For spelling, students write f for th; ask them to look in a mirror as they say the word.
Where do th words come in the sequence?
Most programs teach voiced and unvoiced th in back-to-back lessons, after sh and before ch. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 46.
Exceptions worth knowing
In a few names and borrowed words th says /t/ (Thomas, thyme). In words like lighthouse and hothead, t and h belong to different parts and say two sounds. Function words almost always take the voiced sound, which is why the and this are taught early.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 46 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- This is a thin moth.
- The math was in the bath.
- Then they sat with them on the path.
Questions people ask
What are 5 th words?
What is the difference between voiced and unvoiced th?
Is th a digraph or a blend?
When can a student read th words?
How this list was built
Every word comes from our lexicon of common English words, each split into spelling units and checked against a pronouncing dictionary, so a word is listed under the sound its spelling really makes. Words a student sees in our assessments are left out. The readable after lesson comes from our decodability engine, which checks each spelling unit and syllable pattern against the lesson sequence. You can run your own text through the same engine with the free decodable text checker.