Same sound, different use
their vs there vs they're
Same sound, different meaning and spelling
Their shows possession, there refers to a place or introduces a clause, and they’re contracts they are. Standard pronunciation is the same.
Context decides
Test ownership, location, or “they are”
Each spelling has a separate grammatical job even though every form sounds like “thair.”
Possession: their
Use their before a noun associated with or belonging to one or more people.
The students submitted their projects.
Place or existence: there
Use there for a location, to introduce something, or wherever here would contrast.
There is another chair over there.
They are: they’re
Use the apostrophe only when the full words they are fit naturally.
They’re waiting outside. = They are waiting outside.
Direct answer
What is the difference?
Use their before something belonging or relating to them. Use there for location, existence, or as the opposite of here. Use they’re only when the sentence can expand to they are. Because the three forms are homophones in standard American and British English, grammar and meaning—not careful pronunciation—choose the spelling.
Optional listening · American English
Hear the shared pronunciation
These terms share a standard pronunciation. Use the recordings to learn the sound, then use meaning and context to choose the spelling.
Word 1
their
possessive determiner
Belonging or relating to them or to a person whose gender is unspecified.
US pronunciation
/ðɛr/
UK IPA
/ðeə/
Hear three samples
How to pronounce it
Begin with the voiced TH in “this,” then use the vowel in “air.” It sounds exactly like there and they’re.
Word 2
there
adverb, pronoun, or noun
In or at that place; also used to introduce the existence of something.
US pronunciation
/ðɛr/
UK IPA
/ðeə/
Hear three samples
How to pronounce it
Use the same voiced TH and “air” vowel as their. The final E is silent.
Word 3
they're
contraction
A shortened form of they are.
US pronunciation
/ðɛr/
UK IPA
/ðeə/
Hear three samples
How to pronounce it
Contract they are into one syllable matching their and there. The apostrophe adds no sound.
Listen in context
9 example sentences
Context makes meaning, grammar, and natural rhythm easier to understand. Every sentence has its own playback.
Examples with
their
- The guests left their coats by the door.
- Each applicant should check their email.
- The team celebrated their first victory.
Examples with
there
- Put the empty boxes over there.
- There are three messages waiting.
- We stayed there until the rain stopped.
Examples with
they're
- They're planning to arrive before noon.
- I think they're ready for the next step.
- They're the people we met yesterday.