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  • In this video, we are going to focus on two English consonant sounds.

  • The sounds th /ð/ and /z/.

  • So the 'th' sound and a 'z' sound.

  • I know they sound very similar but they are actually quite different.

  • And they are very important sounds in English so I want you to be able to pronounce them

  • correctly.

  • Let's take two example words.

  • The first word I have is the word 'then'.

  • Can you hear the th sound? 'then'

  • The second word is 'zen'.

  • Can you hear the sound 'z'?

  • 'zen' So 'then' and 'zen'.

  • I know this may sound complicated because they sound similar but they are different,

  • guys.

  • And if you practice with me, by the end of this video, you will be able to pronounce

  • them.

  • So let's get started.

  • Before we learn about the consonant sounds 'th' /ð/ and zed /z/ in English,

  • you should always know about the I.P.A spelling, guys.

  • This is very useful.

  • And you can also watch how I move my mouth and please always try to repeat after me - it's

  • very important.

  • You can do it.

  • Let's do it together.

  • Let's first learn how to produce the 'th' /ð/ sound in English.

  • But this 'th' is voiced.

  • So you are going to use your voice You're going to use

  • umyou're going to feel a vibration in your throat, okay.

  • And what you're going to do is you're going to put your tongue between your teeth and

  • you're not going to push out some air.

  • What you're going to do, is you're going to create a vibration with your tongue.

  • So your tongue has to vibrate, /ð/.

  • Okay.

  • Please watch my mouth and repeat after me.

  • /ð/ /ð/

  • /ð/ Let's practice with the word 'then'.

  • Please repeat after me.

  • 'then' 'then'

  • 'then' Good.

  • Let's now move on to the /z/ sound.

  • So this is voiced.

  • You are going to use your voice and feel a vibration in your throat.

  • You're going to put your tongue against your bottom teeth and you're going to make it vibrate.

  • Use your tongue.

  • Just make a sound so, /z/.

  • Okay.

  • Please repeat after me.

  • /z/ /z/

  • /z/ Let's practice with the word 'zen'.

  • Please repeat after me.

  • 'zen' 'zen'

  • 'zen' Good.

  • Let's now practice with minimal pairs.

  • These words, that have very similar sounds, but they are quite different actually.

  • And they're very good if you really want to hear the difference.

  • But first let's focus on the sounds.

  • Please watch how I move my mouth and repeat after me.

  • First, the 'th' sound.

  • /ð/ /ð/

  • /ð/ And now the /z/ sound.

  • Please repeat after me.

  • /z/ /z/

  • /z/ Let's now do both.

  • Repeat after me, guys.

  • /ð/ /z/

  • /ð/ /z/

  • /ð/ /z/

  • Let's now practice with our words.

  • Please repeat after me.

  • 'then' 'zen'

  • 'then' 'zen'

  • 'then' 'zen'

  • Excellent, guys.

  • Well, guys.

  • It's now time to go through minimal pairs together.

  • Please watch how I move my mouth and repeat after me.

  • Let's go.

  • bathe bays

  • breathe breeze

  • clothe close

  • clothing closing

  • lathe laze

  • loathe lows

  • scythe size

  • seethe sees

  • sheathe she's

  • soothed sues

  • then zen

  • with whiz

  • Excellent, guys.

  • Okay, guys.

  • Let's now practice with sentences containing these consonant sounds.

  • The first sentence: 'Sue's voice soothes me.'

  • Please repeat after me.

  • 'Sue's voice soothes me.'

  • And finally: 'The clothing store is closing.'

  • Please repeat after me.

  • 'The clothing store is closing.'

  • Good job.

  • Let's move on.

  • Let's now move on to listening practice.

  • I'm now going to show you two words.

  • I will say one of the two words, and I want you to listen very carefully and

  • to tell me if this word is, 'a)' or 'b)'

  • Let's get started.

  • Let's start with our first two words.

  • Now which one do I say?

  • Word 'a' or word 'b'?

  • Listen.

  • 'whiz' One more time.

  • 'whiz' Is it 'a' or is it 'b'?

  • It's 'b' guys, 'whiz'.

  • 'a' is 'with'.

  • Listen to me.

  • 'lathe' 'lathe'

  • It's 'a' guys, 'lathe'.

  • 'b' is 'laze'.

  • 'scythe' 'scythe'

  • It's 'a', 'scythe'.

  • 'b' is 'size'.

  • 'lows' 'lows'

  • Answer 'b' is correct, 'lows'.

  • 'a' is 'loathe'.

  • 'close' 'close'

  • 'b' of course, 'close'.

  • 'a' is 'clothe'.

  • Listen to me, guys.

  • 'soothe' 'soothe'

  • It's answer 'a', 'soothe'.

  • 'b' is pronounced 'sues'.

  • 'teasing' 'teasing'

  • It's 'b', 'teasing'.

  • 'a' is 'teething'.

  • 'breeze' 'breeze'

  • Which one is it?

  • It's 'b', 'breeze'.

  • 'a' is 'breathe'.

  • Listen to me very carefully.

  • 'closing' 'closing'

  • It's 'b', 'closing'.

  • 'a' is 'clothing'.

  • And finally.

  • 'sheathe' 'sheathe'

  • Of course guys it's 'a', 'sheathe'.

  • 'b' would be 'she's'.

  • Great practice, guys.

  • You now have a better understanding of the two consonant sounds /ð/ and /z/ in English.

  • Keep practicing.

  • It takes a lot of practice to be able to master these sounds but you can do it.

  • So keep practicing.

  • Train your ear as well to hear the different sounds in English.

  • And obviously watch my other pronunciation videos.

  • I promise you they will help you improve your skills.

  • See you next time.

  • Thank you so much for watching, guys.

  • If you've liked it, show me your support, click 'like', subscribe to the channel,

  • put your comments below, and share this video.

  • See you.

In this video, we are going to focus on two English consonant sounds.

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