Hi, where is the tongue when you pronounce TH after T,D,N? Do you move it from the T,D,N position (the top of the mouth) to the TH one (the front teeth) or you pronounce T,D,N in the same position as TH? Like in “said that” or “in that”. And what about th (2024)

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Since TH is said with the tongue in between the teeth, I will literally slide my tongue down to that position from where the T, D, or N is on the roof to between the teeth. I don't make any sound while doing the movement, only before and after.

However, there are many times when the T,D,N becomes "assimilated" with the TH sound, causing one to somewhat sound like the other, mainly when speaking quickly. Both sounds will be pronounced in the exact same location, sometimes in the middle between where each would be said normally. Example: "in the" quickly has the TH said with the tongue on the back of the teeth at the same place as the n, so the TH sounds more like a light "d".

For a word like "birthday", I say the TH in the normal position, then slightly pull back to the D position without lifting up then make the sound after. (I actually flatten my tongue a bit against my teeth to do this as the "compromise" position.)

@bugamagoo so if i say “in the”, “on that” or “read this” quickly i can pronounce the TH sound with my tongue on the roof? Do i get it right?

Yeah. The "TH" has a slightly different sound, but you still "push" a puff of air out wherever your tongue is for the other letter, just like if your tongue was correctly between your teeth.

For "in this" and "on that", the N is almost between the teeth like the TH, still an N sound overall though.
For things like "read this", it might sound closer to "read'dis" than a heavy TH sound.

@bugamagoo let me conclude please. If i say something where’s the T or D before the TH then the TH is pronounced with my tongue on the roof of my mouth with me pushing a puff of air out just as if the tongue was between my teeth.
If i say with the N before the TH then my tongue is between my teeth to pronounce the N and then i normally pronounce the TH.
Do i get it right now?
What about the soft TH? Like in “that thing”?
One more question: do you pronounce the TH with the tongue on the roof after the N sound just like with the T or D, or your tongue is only between your teeth?

Yes that sounds good. It just takes some practice to see what is almost the easiest way to move between the sounds.

For "that thing", the T at the end of "that" is soft, so it is normally pronounced closer to where the TH is anyway, so there's not much change.

For the N and TH combination, I can do two different things and hear no difference to be honest. One option is that the tongue stays on the back of the teeth for the whole combination (closer to the between-the-teeth area than the roof), and the other option is the N on the roof but do the "slide" to the TH location.

@bugamagoo “in this and that” how does it sound?

@bugamagoo “read that thing” and this one?

Very very good!!
Here's my recording so you can compare, but you sound perfect!

@bugamagoo thank you very much!!! I appreciate your help a lot

@danyarezin For the most clear pronunciation, I would move the tongue between the teeth (or just touching the top teeth). It's a very small movement and doesn't take any time at all.

As a new language learner, I find that it's better that I work for the most clear pronunciation (I'm studying Spanish) because otherwise Native Speakers will not understand me since I still have an accent. Of course, Native Speakers often smoosh words/sounds together, but they are understood since they have the same accent as their listener.

@CoraCecilia but as you hear it’s not very easy even though i’ve been practicing a lot.
It’s easier for me to put my tongue between my teeth to pronounce the T sound (or N or D) that follows the TH sound like this:
Does it sound more natural or less?

@danyarezin The second recording sounds better. You're on the right track. Just keep practicing!

Put this right there. Read that. Send them the last thing.