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Commonly Confused

How to Pronounce then vs than

Key Pronunciation Contrast

‘Then’ (⁄ðɛn⁄) refers to time or consequence, while ‘than’ (⁄ðæn⁄ or ⁄ðən⁄) is used strictly for comparisons.

Contrast: Vowel nucleus: ⁄ɛ⁄ vs ⁄æ⁄ (or weak ⁄ə⁄)

Word 1Full word page➔

then

⁄ðɛn⁄

Syllables

THEN

Definition:

At that time.

“He was happy then.”
Word 2Full word page➔

than

⁄ðæn⁄

Syllables

THAN

Definition:

Used in comparisons, to introduce the basis of comparison.

“Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine. The machine gun is so much more lethal than the bow and arrow that comparisons are meaningless.”

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Frequently Asked Questions: then vs than

What is the difference in pronunciation between "then" and "than"?

‘Then’ (⁄ðɛn⁄) refers to time or consequence, while ‘than’ (⁄ðæn⁄ or ⁄ðən⁄) is used strictly for comparisons.

Where does the syllable stress fall in "then" vs "than"?

"then" has 1 syllable(s) (then) with stress on "THEN". "than" has 1 syllable(s) (than) with stress on "THAN".

Why do English learners often confuse "then" and "than"?

Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Vowel nucleus: ⁄ɛ⁄ vs ⁄æ⁄ (or weak ⁄ə⁄). In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.

What are example sentences for "then" and "than"?

Example for "then": "He was happy then." Example for "than": "Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine. The machine gun is so much more lethal than the bow and arrow that comparisons are meaningless."