Consonant Contrast
How to Pronounce sink vs think
Key Pronunciation Contrast
‘Think’ starts with the dental fricative ⁄θ⁄ (tongue between teeth), while ‘sink’ begins with the alveolar sibilant /s/.
Contrast: Dental ⁄θ⁄ vs alveolar /s/
“A stone sinks in water. The sun gradually sank in the west.”
“Idly, the detective thought what his next move should be.”
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Frequently Asked Questions: sink vs think
What is the difference in pronunciation between "sink" and "think"?
‘Think’ starts with the dental fricative ⁄θ⁄ (tongue between teeth), while ‘sink’ begins with the alveolar sibilant /s/.
Where does the syllable stress fall in "sink" vs "think"?
"sink" has 1 syllable(s) (sink) with stress on "SINK". "think" has 1 syllable(s) (think) with stress on "THINK".
Why do English learners often confuse "sink" and "think"?
Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Dental ⁄θ⁄ vs alveolar /s/. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.
What are example sentences for "sink" and "think"?
Example for "sink": "A stone sinks in water. The sun gradually sank in the west." Example for "think": "Idly, the detective thought what his next move should be."