Skip to main content
Consonant Contrast

How to Pronounce mouth vs mouse

Key Pronunciation Contrast

‘Mouth’ (noun) ends with ⁄θ⁄ (⁄maʊθ⁄); ‘mouse’ ends with /s/ (⁄maʊs⁄).

Contrast: Final consonant: ⁄θ⁄ vs /s/

mouth

⁄maʊθ⁄

Syllables

MOUTH

Definition:

The front opening of a creature through which food is ingested.

“"Open your mouth and say 'aah'," directed the doctor.”

mouse

⁄maʊs⁄

Syllables

MOUSE

Definition:

Any mammal of the many rodent families (especially Muridae) that have a small body and a long tail.

“Near-synonyms: murine, murid, vole (all parasynonymous with this broad sense)”

Watch Native Video Clips & Ear Training

80 total video examples
Listen separately:

Frequently Asked Questions: mouth vs mouse

What is the difference in pronunciation between "mouth" and "mouse"?

‘Mouth’ (noun) ends with ⁄θ⁄ (⁄maʊθ⁄); ‘mouse’ ends with /s/ (⁄maʊs⁄).

Where does the syllable stress fall in "mouth" vs "mouse"?

"mouth" has 1 syllable(s) (mouth) with stress on "MOUTH". "mouse" has 1 syllable(s) (mouse) with stress on "MOUSE".

Why do English learners often confuse "mouth" and "mouse"?

Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Final consonant: ⁄θ⁄ vs /s/. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.

What are example sentences for "mouth" and "mouse"?

Example for "mouth": ""Open your mouth and say 'aah'," directed the doctor." Example for "mouse": "Near-synonyms: murine, murid, vole (all parasynonymous with this broad sense)"