HOME

English Pronunciation Tip of the Day

Tip 51

Category: Miscellaneous
Author: JAM

Irregular plurals: <-th>

Some nouns ending in <-th> have an irregular pronunciation of the plural form. Instead of simply adding /s/ as in months /mVnTs/, these words have the ending /Dz/ in the plural, as in mouths /maUDz/. There are some things to notice about this:

1. The /Dz/ pronunciation never occurs with words where the <-th> is preceded by a consonant. So simply add /s/ to all words ending in <-dth> <-fth> <-lth> <-pth> <-nth> <-xth> (if the word can have a plural!)
2. Some words have /Ts/ for some speakers and /Dz/ for other speakers. Examples: bath hearth sheath wreath
3. Some words must have /Dz/ in the plural. Examples: mouth path truth
4. Some words (in addition to the words in 1.) must have /Ts/. Examples: cloth fourth heath moth myth

The above does not necessarily apply to US English. The best thing to do is to check in a dictionary.

With thanks to Rogerio Sanchez for the suggestion.