when you pronounce the "th" sound in american there are two sounds?

Question

for the first th sound as in through, three you stick your tongue tip in between your teeth, and the second th sound as in the, that, them, i find it you more of putting it behind the back of your front teeth against the ridges of both front teeth, you don't have it go out between your teeth just kinda push against the back of your two front teeth and let it go to make the second th sound but that is just my research and from i experienced practicing the th i find it hard to make the second th sound sticking my tongue out between the teeth becuz it is only intended for the first th sound as in through, three , im non-native speaker trying to learn the th sound but is this correct as to how you pronounce the th sounds? or do you also stick your tongue tip between your teeth for the second th sound too?

Answer 1

There are two sounds. One is voiced and the other is unvoiced. They are called Dental Fricatives. Dental -- because you use the teeth. Fricative, because it is a consonant where air passes through the mouth when it is used.

This is similar to the difference between the F and the V (unvoiced and voiced labio-dental fricatives).

Answer 2

The first sound you are describing is different because of the 'r'; the "thr" makes a different sound than "th". The "r" in "thr" sound causes you to stick your tongue out through your teeth a little, (kind of like making a "th" and hissing sound at the same time).

For words like the, that, them, it is just a "th" sound, so you don't need to stick your tongue out through your teeth, although many people stick the slightest bit of tip through their tongue for this sound. I don't, but some people do.