How do you pronounce "deaths" and other words with -ths

Status
Not open for further replies.

mogu

Junior Member
Joined
May 2, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
I'm sometimes mixed up with how to pronounce the plural form of "death": deaths. In theory, it should sound like [dεθs], but nobody seem to pronounce it in that way (at least to my ears). In addition, it seems to be hard to pronounce s-sound right after θ-sound. On the other hand, the plural form of "month", which also ends with th-sound, is often pronounced like [mʌnts]. I think it's easier to pronounce. In general, when I pronounce the plural form of words with th at the end, how should I pronounce it? Otherwise is there no general rule for it?
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
For me, there is no difference between the "ths" in deaths and the "ths" in "months".
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
If you use /t/, it will sound like debts. You can make an easier version of /θs/ by not sticking the tongue between the teeth, but up against the back of the top teeth so it's a quicker movement.
 

probus

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
For me, "deaths" is purely sybyllant, while "months" is slightly voiced.
 

mogu

Junior Member
Joined
May 2, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
Thank you for your comment, probus, but what is "sybyllant"?
 

Roman55

Key Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Italy
Current Location
France
I think probus means sibilant, which is a hissing sound.

However, I agree with MikeNewYork. Deaths and months have the same 'ths' sound, and the 'th' retains its singular pronunciation in the plural, (with the addition of an 's' of course).

This isn't the case with words such as, mouth /maʊθ/ mouths /maʊðz/ or youth /juːθ/ youths /juːðz/ where in the plural the 'th' is voiced. I don't know any easy rule for this. You need to learn them as you go.
 

mogu

Junior Member
Joined
May 2, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
Thank you very much, Roman55.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top