exercices vocaux pour maîtriser les sons th et r en anglais
The sounds “th” and “r” in English can be challenging for French speakers, but targeted vocal exercises can help master them. Below are structured exercises for each sound, based on expert recommendations.
Son TH
The “th” sound in English has two distinct forms: the voiceless /θ/ (as in “think”) and the voiced /ð/ (as in “this”). 4
Voiceless TH /θ/
To produce the voiceless “th” sound:
- Place the tip of your tongue between your upper and lower front teeth. 6
- Gently blow air out while keeping your vocal cords relaxed—no vibration should be felt in your throat. 5
- Practice with words like think, three, thick, thought, and bath. 4, 6
Try this exercise: Repeat the sentence slowly:
“Three thousand thoughts came through thick.” 2
Focus on the consistent airflow and tongue placement.
Voiced TH /ð/
For the voiced “th” sound:
- Position your tongue the same way, lightly touching the back of your upper teeth. 6
- This time, engage your vocal cords—place your fingers on your throat to feel the vibration. 5
- Practice with words like the, they, this, that, mother, and breathe. 8, 4
Use this sentence for repetition:
“Their mothers are breathing more than them.” 2
Ensure each “th” vibrates slightly.
A helpful tip is to start by exaggerating the tongue movement and then gradually reduce it for natural speech. Recording yourself and comparing with native speakers can also improve accuracy. 5, 6
Son R
The English “r” sound is produced differently than in French and requires precise tongue positioning.
Articulation Technique
- For the American “r”, curl the tip of your tongue upward without touching the roof of your mouth—the tongue should remain low and bunched in the back. 1
- The sound is retroflex, meaning the tongue is slightly curled back, but not touching any part of the mouth. 1
- Avoid the French uvular “r”, which is produced in the throat.
Practice Exercises
Begin with simple words containing “r” at the beginning, middle, and end:
- red, road, rain, car, better, letter. 1
Repeat the following phrases:
- “Red roses rise rapidly.”
- “Three roads lead to the river.”
Minimal pair exercises can sharpen your discrimination:
- red vs. led
- right vs. light
- run vs. lun 1
Listening and repeating after native speakers, especially through video tutorials, helps internalize the correct sound. Regular daily practice is essential for muscle memory development 11