How to pronounce “TH” among Zs or Ses？
When it's single, I can pronounce well. But while it is among Zs or Ses, I can hardly get my tones around it. Do you have some advice or custom about it?

Thanks for your help in advance.You‘ve helped me a lot， but probably I didnt express well. I mean when TH is near Ses or Zs, not just next to them. Here is an example: Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills, He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass.

Question

How to pronounce “TH” among Zs or Ses？
When it's single, I can pronounce well.  But while it is among Zs or Ses, I can hardly get my tones around it. Do you have some advice or custom about it?

Thanks for your help in advance.You‘ve helped me a lot， but probably I didnt express well. I mean when TH is near Ses or Zs, not just next to them. Here is an example: Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills, He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass.

Answer

tongue placement issue

Answer

Near or next to another word doesn't usually effect the sound you make in your mouth to produce a word, however it may be more difficult to pronounce due to the word before or after. < If difficulty in pronuncation is the problem, simply repeat the correct pronunciation of the sentence many times until it becomes very natural to say. You can also record sentences and listen to them over and over or simply listen to native speakers read the sentences a lot. However on a word by word basis 1) Brings < The "s" here sounds like a Z. To make this sound put your teeth together. Instead of just blowing air through your teeth to make the simple "s" sound (as in the word "snake", try pushing your toungue up near (not to) the roof of your mouth while blowing through your teeth. In doing this you should feel a strong vibration in your mouth and hear the "Z" sound (as in Zebra). This is the sound of the "s" in this word. >>>> bringzzzzzzzzz 2) forth ------ toungue between your teeth and blow gently. As in "this" < th 3) a thousand ------ toungue between your teeth and blow gently. As in "this" < th 4) joys ---------------- "z" sound as in zerbra. See answer #1 for how to make this sound. ills joyzzzz illzzzz 5) thinks ---------------normal "s" sound - teeth together, pull toungue back and exhale gently pass

Answer

Cricket - it would help us to answer your question if you could give us 2 or 3 examples of the probelmatic (difficult to pronounce) words. Plurals of a root word that ends in "th" and is followed by an "s" or "es" is difficult to pronounce because we have to twist our mouths to make the two different sounds. Try saying the word slowly, in two parts. Later, when your mouth, tongue and teeth change to make the two sounds separately, then you may say the two sounds closer and closer together (in time/shorter pause between the 2 sounds).  Some of these words are difficult to pronounce, even for native speakers. For example (possessive example - not plural)..... The Smith's home.....  Smith-----sss  /  Smith---sss  /  Smith--sss  /  Smith-sss  /  Smiths