How to pronounce “theirs”
Theirs is pronounced /ˈðerz/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “theirs”
✗ Often said: /ˈθeɜːrs/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈðerz/
Why the two come apart: a consonant letter takes an unexpected sound value here, so reading it "as written" comes out wrong.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “theirs” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“theirs” sound by sound
“theirs” is built out of 4 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
-
ðSame tongue-to-teeth position as /θ/, but turn the voice on so the tongue tip vibrates against the teeth.
-
eHold the tongue mid-high and forward with the jaw slightly open and lips relaxed and unrounded.
-
rCurl the tongue tip back (or bunch the tongue body up) without touching anything, round the lips slightly, and voice — the tongue must never tap the roof of the mouth.
-
zExactly the /s/ tongue position with voicing added, so the airflow buzzes.
Words that rhyme with “theirs”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Questions people ask about “theirs”
- How do you pronounce “theirs”?
- “theirs” is pronounced /ˈðerz/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “theirs”?
- “theirs” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “theirs”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈθeɜːrs/, but it is actually /ˈðerz/, because a consonant letter takes an unexpected sound value here, so reading it "as written" comes out wrong.
Stop looking words up one at a time
You just looked up one word. PHONO puts the IPA above every word of whatever you are reading — in your browser, in a PDF, in any app — the moment you select it. An offline pronunciation dictionary, US and UK audio, one hotkey.