Th
/θ/noun
The 20th letter of the English alphabet, representing a voiceless dental fricative sound.
Did you know?In Old English, 'þ' (thorn) represented the 'th' sound, often used in runes associated with protection and fate.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*t̪h
“a breathy sound made at the dental ridge, associated with creation and divinity.”
Ancient Germanic
Gmc
þorn
“a letter and sound used in runes, symbolizing protection and strength.”
Old English
OE
þorn, þ
“the letter 'thorn', representing the 'th' sound, often found in words of fate and destiny.”
14th Century
Middle English
th
“shifts into a more standardized form, used in various writings to denote pronouns and articles.”
Modern English
English
th
“retains its place as a unique sound in the English language, integral to identity and communication.”