Skip to main content
Consonant Contrast

How to Pronounce think vs sink

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/

think

⁄θɪŋk⁄

Syllables

THINK

Definition:

To ponder, to go over in one's mind.

“Idly, the detective thought what his next move should be.”

sink

⁄sɪŋk⁄

Syllables

SINK

Definition:

To move or be moved into something.

“A stone sinks in water. The sun gradually sank in the west.”

Watch Native Video Clips & Ear Training

40 total video examples
Listen separately:

Clip Unavailable in Your Region - think

The YouTube video owner may have restricted regional playback or embedding.

IPA: ⁄θɪŋk⁄

Frequently Asked Questions: think vs sink

What is the difference in pronunciation between "think" and "sink"?

‘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 "think" vs "sink"?

"think" has 1 syllable(s) (think) with stress on "THINK". "sink" has 1 syllable(s) (sink) with stress on "SINK".

Why do English learners often confuse "think" and "sink"?

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 "think" and "sink"?

Example for "think": "Idly, the detective thought what his next move should be." Example for "sink": "A stone sinks in water. The sun gradually sank in the west."