"The" is the most common word in English, but did you know it has TWO different pronunciations? Native speakers switch between them automatically, and learning this rule will instantly make your English sound more natural.
The Two Pronunciations
The Simple Rule
The rule is straightforward:
- /ðə/ (thuh) - Use before words that START with a consonant SOUND
- /ðiː/ (thee) - Use before words that START with a vowel SOUND
Important: It's about the SOUND, not the spelling!
Before Consonant Sounds: /ðə/ (thuh)
Use "thuh" before words starting with consonant sounds:
Before Vowel Sounds: /ðiː/ (thee)
Use "thee" before words starting with vowel sounds:
Tricky Cases: Spelling vs. Sound
Remember: it's about the SOUND, not the letter!
Words Starting with Silent H
When H is silent, the word starts with a vowel sound:
Words Where U Sounds Like "you"
When U makes the /j/ sound, it's a consonant:
Compare: "the umbrella" /ðiː/ (U = /ʌ/ vowel) vs "the uniform" /ðə/ (U = /j/ consonant)
Words Where O Sounds Like "w"
Emphasis: Always /ðiː/
When emphasizing "the" to mean "THE ONE AND ONLY," always use /ðiː/:
- "This is THE /ðiː/ restaurant in town." (the best/most famous)
- "She's THE /ðiː/ expert on this topic." (the most important)
- "Is this THE /ðiː/ Michael Jordan?" (the famous one)
Quick Reference Chart
| Use /ðə/ (thuh) | Use /ðiː/ (thee) |
|---|---|
| the book | the apple |
| the car | the egg |
| the dog | the ice |
| the phone | the orange |
| the university (U=/j/) | the umbrella (U=/ʌ/) |
| the European (E=/j/) | the elevator |
| the one (O=/w/) | the open door |
| the house | the hour (silent H) |
Practice Sentences
Read these aloud, paying attention to which pronunciation to use:
- I put the /ðə/ book on the /ðə/ table near the /ðiː/ apple.
- The /ðə/ university is in the /ðiː/ old part of the /ðə/ city.
- I waited for the /ðiː/ hour to pass.
- The /ðiː/ honest answer is the /ðə/ best one.
- She's THE /ðiː/ person for the /ðə/ job.
Why This Matters
Using the correct pronunciation of "the" makes your speech flow more smoothly. Native speakers do this unconsciously - it's part of natural rhythm. When you master this rule, you'll sound noticeably more fluent!