Why Do I Pronounce Th as F?

TH-fronting
The pronunciation of <th> as a <f> sound in words like thing or as a <v> sound in words like brother is a characteristic feature of London speech spreading across much of South East England and beyond.

Why do I say f instead of th?

So what the heck is it? Simply put, it's what happens when speakers use the sounds /f/ or /v/ instead of TH. This results in words like “thing” becoming “fing,” or “brother” becoming “bruvver” — and it can also make “three” and “free” sound identical.

Why can't I say my th?

Well, yes it could be normal that your child cannot produce the /th/ sound, depending on their age. ... Children acquire speech sounds in a particular order with some being early developing and others being later developing. /th/ is one of those later developing sounds.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.