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DigraphsScience of Reading

TH Words for Kids

TH words are words containing the digraph TH, which produces two different sounds: voiced /th/ as in this and that, and unvoiced /th/ as in thin and thick. TH is one of the trickiest digraphs because of this dual nature. LUCA's SoundScout distinguishes between voiced and unvoiced TH at the phoneme level, targeting the specific variant a child struggles with.

Create a TH Digraph Story FreeAll Digraphs Patterns

19 words · Digraphs · Last updated: April 2026

TH Digraph Word List

19 words
  • math
  • path
  • bath
  • with
  • moth
  • cloth
  • sloth
  • thug
  • thud
  • thin
  • this
  • that
  • them
  • then
  • thus
  • they
  • three
  • threw
  • throne

These th digraph words follow the Science of Reading phonics sequence. Powered by LUCADictionary's 763,000+ grapheme-phoneme mappings, built on U.S. Patent No. 12,394,332 B2 and supported by National Science Foundation SBIR funding.

Create a Story with These WordsDownload Printable PDF
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TH Digraph Words in Sentences

Reading words in context builds comprehension and fluency. Each sentence below uses only decodable words appropriate for this phonics level.

1
thin: The stick was long and thin.
2
thick: The mud was thick on the road.
3
think: Think hard before you pick one.
4
thing: The best thing is a good book.
5
that: That red hat is on the shelf.
6
them: Give the snack to them now.
7
then: Eat lunch and then go play.
8
this: This is the best day yet.
9
thud: The box fell with a loud thud.
10
thank: Thank Mom for the nice meal.
11
thrill: The ride was a big thrill.
12
throne: The king sat on the gold throne.
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Download TH Digraph Word List + Sentences

Print-ready LUCA branded resource with all 19 words and practice sentences.

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Free · Email required · Print-ready format

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How to Read TH Digraph Words

1

Sound it out.

Point to each letter and say its sound separately. Then blend the sounds together smoothly without pausing between them. Slide the sounds together until the word emerges naturally.

2

Use it in a sentence.

Practice 5 to 10 words per session. Have your child read each word aloud, then say a sentence using that word. This builds decoding accuracy and vocabulary together.

3

Read it in a story.

When your child reads the word list fluently, move to connected text. Decodable stories from StoryGen feature th digraph words in context, bridging word reading and real fluency.

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Grade Level and Sequence

TH Digraph words are part of digraphs in the Science of Reading phonics sequence.

Prerequisite skills: Letter recognition, phonemic awareness (hearing individual sounds in spoken words).

What comes next: After mastering this pattern, children progress to related patterns, then advance to the next category. LUCA's Pathfinder sequences this automatically.

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Grounded in Reading Science

These word lists follow the phonics scope and sequence recommended by the National Reading Panel. Systematic, explicit phonics instruction produces the strongest reading gains across all demographics and learning profiles.

LUCA's approach builds on orthographic mapping research by Ehri (2014), demonstrating that readers store words by connecting spellings to pronunciations at the phoneme level. This is exactly what SoundScout measures.

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The Science Behind LUCAInside LUCALabs: Listen, Analyze, Build
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Evidence and Results+17.2 WPM in our Spring 2026 pilot average fluency improvement
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Research PartnershipsCarnegie Mellon University collaboration
LUCALabs

How LUCA Turns This Word List Into Real Progress

Every read-aloud session runs through the LUCALabs three-phase cycle so gaps for th digraph words are caught and closed.

SoundScout

Listens

Powered by SoundScout

Captures every phoneme your child produces, including th digraph patterns.

Assessment Intelligence

Analyzes

Assessment Intelligence

Identifies exact gaps without a separate test. Patterns across 763,000+ mappings reveal each reader's needs.

StoryGen

Builds

StoryGen + JourneyBuilder

Generates stories with th digraph words matched to your child's interests.

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Proven Classroom Results

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+17.2WPM
Average fluency gain
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72%
Reached mastery threshold
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763K+
Grapheme-phoneme mappings

From LUCA's classroom evidence · Live results dashboard

National Science Foundation SBIRCarnegie Mellon UniversityUnited States Patent and Trademark OfficeNewSchools Venture FundProvident Charter SchoolNew Kensington-Arnold School DistrictSXSW EDU

Who Uses TH Digraph Word Lists?

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Parents and Families

Practice th digraph words at home with your child. No teaching expertise needed. LUCA handles the diagnostic instruction while you provide the encouragement and support.

How families use LUCA
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Educators and Specialists

Use these word lists for small group instruction, MTSS intervention blocks, or independent practice stations at school. Assessment data and progress reports generate automatically with each session.

How educators use LUCA
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Homeschool Families

TH Digraph words fit directly into your phonics scope and sequence at home. LUCA delivers the reading instruction and tracks progress so you can guide your child rather than teach phonics yourself.

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Related Letter Word Lists

Browse words by the letters that appear most often in th digraph words.

Words starting with TWords starting with H

More Digraphs Word Lists

Continue building digraphs skills with these related patterns.

SH Digraph Words

SH words are words containing the digraph SH, where the letters S and H combine to make one sound /sh/, as in ship, shop, and shell. SH can appear at the beginning or end of words (ship, fish). This digraph is introduced in first grade after consonant blends. LUCA's SoundScout identifies whether the /sh/ phoneme is produced correctly in all positions.

View sh digraph word list

WH Digraph Words

WH words are words containing the digraph WH, where the letters W and H combine at the beginning of words like what, when, and where. WH appears in many question words that children use daily. This digraph is introduced alongside CH, SH, and TH in the Science of Reading sequence. LUCA's SoundScout listens for accurate WH production during read-aloud.

View wh digraph word list

Frequently Asked Questions

TH digraph words contain the two-letter combination TH, which makes either the voiced /th/ sound (as in 'the' and 'that') or the voiceless /th/ sound (as in 'thick' and 'think'). TH appears in some of the most common words in the English language.

The voiced TH (/th/ as in 'the') is produced with vocal cord vibration, while the voiceless TH (/th/ as in 'thick') is produced without it. Both are written the same way, so children learn to distinguish them by the feel of vibration in their throat when they say each word.

TH can be challenging because it represents a sound not found in many other languages, and some children articulate it as /f/ or /d/. Explicit instruction on tongue placement, combined with phonemic awareness practice, helps most children master both TH pronunciations. LUCA's SoundScout can detect TH pronunciation errors at the phoneme level.

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Is your child struggling with reading? One in five children has dyslexia, and 80% are undiagnosed. Learn how LUCA supports dyslexia, or compare LUCA to other reading programs.

Your child can master th digraph words.

LUCA listens at the phoneme level so every decoding error is caught in real time, not discovered weeks later on a test.

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Practice Reading with LUCA

LUCA is The Intelligent Reading Specialist: we listen at the phoneme level and build personalized stories aligned with the Science of Reading. Use these word lists for exposure, then move into guided practice on the Playground.