Three of the most frequently confused English words sound almost identical: there, their, and they're. In careful speech, all three are /ðɛr/. But in natural, connected speech, two of them can go weak, and that weak form /ðɚ/ changes everything. Understanding when each word is strong and when it is weak is the key to both pronouncing and understanding English naturally.
The Core Rule
English function words have two pronunciations: a strong form when stressed, and a weak form when unstressed. For there and their, the weak form is /ðɚ/, sounding like a quick schwa with an R color. For they're, the form is always /ðɛr/ because it is a contraction that still carries the meaning of "they are".
The Three Words and Their Patterns
1. There (location) = /ðɛr/
When there means "at that place", it always stays strong. It carries new information ("that place, not this one"), so the full vowel is needed:
- "Put it over there." /ðɛr/
- "Look there!" /ðɛr/
- "I've been there." /ðɛr/
2. There (existential) = /ðɛr/ or /ðɚ/
When there is the dummy subject of "there is", "there are", "there was", it usually goes weak. It carries no new meaning; it just fills a grammatical slot:
- "There's a problem." → /ðɚz/ (weak)
- "There are three." → /ðɚ r ˈθri/ (weak)
- "There was nobody." → /ðɚ wəz/ (weak)
3. Their = /ðɛr/ or /ðɚ/
As a possessive adjective, their typically stands before a noun. Possessives are nearly always unstressed, so their usually goes weak:
- "Their car is new." → /ðɚ kɑːr/ (weak)
- "We liked their idea." → /ðɚ ˌaɪˈdiə/ (weak)
It returns to the strong form under contrast: "It's THEIR car, not ours."
4. They're = /ðɛr/ (always strong)
They're is a contraction of "they are". It carries both the subject and the verb, so it cannot go weak. It sounds exactly like strong there and strong their:
- "They're here!" → /ðɛr ˈhɪr/
- "They're very nice." → /ðɛr ˈvɛri naɪs/
Practice Phrases
Reference Table
| Word | Strong | Weak | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| there (location) | /ðɛr/ | n/a | Always strong ("over there") |
| there (existential) | /ðɛr/ | /ðɚ/ | Weak in "there's", "there are", "there was" |
| their | /ðɛr/ | /ðɚ/ | Weak before a noun ("their car") |
| they're | /ðɛr/ | n/a | Always strong (it's a contraction) |
Why This Matters for Listening
When an American says "There's something in their bag", you will hear two /ðɚ/ sounds, both very short, easy to miss. Your brain wants to hear a full /ðɛr/. If you only listen for /ðɛr/, you will miss these words entirely. Train yourself to catch the quick /ðɚ/ before a noun or verb.
The Three-Way Homophone Trap
Because there, their, they're all share /ðɛr/ in strong form, they are constantly confused in writing. Native speakers even make this mistake. The pronunciation is identical, but the grammar is different:
- there = location or dummy subject
- their = possessive adjective
- they're = they are (contraction)
In context, use these clues:
- If you can replace it with "here", it is there.
- If you can replace it with "his" or "her", it is their.
- If you can replace it with "they are", it is they're.
Common Mistakes
- Saying full /ðɛr/ for "there's": sounds over-pronounced. Try "there's" as /ðɚz/.
- Stressing "their" before a noun: unless you are contrasting, keep it weak.
- Confusing these words in writing because they sound the same: the sound rule is simple, the spelling rule requires thought.
Summary
All three words are /ðɛr/ in their strong form. When there is existential ("there's") or their is a possessive ("their car"), they usually go weak: /ðɚ/. They're is always strong because it contains "are". Master this strong/weak contrast and your English will rhythm correctly, and your listening will stop missing tiny /ðɚ/ sounds.