Tooth is a hard, calcified structure embedded in the jaw or dental arch, used for biting and tearing food. As a noun, it refers to any single tooth; collectively, teeth. The word has a short, clipped vowel and a strong final consonant, making it a compact, high-energy term frequently heard in medical, dental, and everyday contexts.
"She chipped a tooth while biting into hard candy."
"The dentist recommended brushing twice a day to protect your teeth."
"Several animals use their teeth for defense and feeding."
"He flossed between his teeth after meals to remove any residue."
The word tooth comes from the Old English word toþ, which is of Germanic origin and related to the Dutch tand and German Zahn. It is cognate with Old Saxon toþ, Old High German zant, and Gothic tanþs, all linked to the Proto-Germanic base tunþ- or tenþ- meaning ‘tooth’ or ‘tapper.’ Proto-Indo-European roots are reconstructed as denoting a hard, sharp object used for biting. Over time, the spelling settled to “tooth” with the long o phoneme in many dialects. In Middle English, “tooth” also appeared in compounds and phrases that preserved its essential dental meaning, evolving along with changes in vowel quality and consonant strength. The modern pronunciation /tuːθ/ in American and British varieties reflects a long close back vowel followed by a voiceless dental fricative-like finish, a pattern that has persisted despite regional vowel shifts. First known written attestations appear in Old English medical and anatomical texts, with the clear reference to the single unit of the dentition appearing in various glossaries by the 12th century. The term’s resilience across languages and cultures highlights its fundamental role in human anatomy and daily language.
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Words that rhyme with "Tooth"
-oth sounds
-uth sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce it as /tuːθ/. Start with a tense, long “oo” sound like in “food,” then end with a voiceless dental fricative /θ/ produced by lightly touching the tip of your tongue to the upper front teeth. The stress is on the word as a monosyllable, with no secondary stress. Practice saying “tooth” in slow, then normal pace: /tuːθ/. Audio reference: you can compare with native speech on Pronounce or Forvo entries for /tuːθ/.
Common errors include replacing /θ/ with /s/ or /t/ (saying “toos” or “toot”), and shortening /uː/ to a lax vowel like /ʊ/ as in “foot.” Some learners also accidentally voice /θ/ as /ð/ (voiced dental fricative), making “tooth” sound like “tooth” with a buzzing end. Correct by keeping the tongue touching the teeth for /θ/ and maintaining a tense, long /uː/ before it. Slow movement of air and crisp release help.
In US/UK/AU, the core is /tuːθ/. US English often preserves the long /uː/ with a slightly rounded lip and a clearer /θ/; UK English may have a slightly more forward tongue position for /θ/, producing a dental blend that can be perceptually crisper. Australian English generally keeps the same sequence but may show subtle vowel brightness or reduced rounding depending on speaker. All share the /θ/ at the end; the main variation lies in vowel quality and diphthong realization in fast speech.
The challenge lies in the final /θ/ dental fricative, which requires precise tongue placement behind the teeth and a stream of voiceless air. Many speakers anticipate the release and produce a /t/ or /f/ substitute. Maintaining a tense, long /uː/ before the /θ/ helps prevent shortening into /oʊ/ or /o/. Liaisons and rapid speech can also blur the articulation, so conscious practice of tongue-tip placement and breath control is essential.
No. In standard English, 'tooth' is fully pronounced with the /t/ onset and /θ/ coda. In fast connected speech, you might hear a weaker final /θ/ or a tiny aspirated release, but it isn’t silent. Ensure the final /θ/ is audible, even if brief, by keeping the tongue near the teeth and letting a small amount of air escape. This helps preserve intelligibility in rapid conversation.
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