How to Pronounce three vs tree
Key Pronunciation Contrast
‘Three’ starts with the dental fricative ⁄θ⁄ (⁄θriː⁄); ‘tree’ begins with an alveolar plosive /t/ followed by /r/ (⁄triː⁄).
Contrast: Fricative ⁄θ⁄ vs plosive /t/
tree
⁄triː⁄
TREE
A perennial woody plant taller and larger than a shrub with a wooden trunk and, at some distance from the ground, having leaves and branches.
Watch Native Video Clips & Ear Training
80 total video examplesFrequently Asked Questions: three vs tree
What is the difference in pronunciation between "three" and "tree"?
‘Three’ starts with the dental fricative ⁄θ⁄ (⁄θriː⁄); ‘tree’ begins with an alveolar plosive /t/ followed by /r/ (⁄triː⁄).
Where does the syllable stress fall in "three" vs "tree"?
"three" has 1 syllable(s) (three) with stress on "THREE". "tree" has 1 syllable(s) (tree) with stress on "TREE".
Why do English learners often confuse "three" and "tree"?
Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Fricative ⁄θ⁄ vs plosive /t/. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.
What are example sentences for "three" and "tree"?
Example for "three": "In our example, 1210 has 1 zero, 2 ones, 1 two and 0 threes." Example for "tree": "Hyperion is the tallest living tree in the world."