Sequence or comparison?
then vs than
Meaning, pronunciation, and examples
Then relates to time, order, or what happens next. Than introduces a comparison. In careful speech, then has the vowel in “bed” and than has the vowel in “cat.”
Reference accent
Reference recordings are AI-generated. Nothing is recorded.
American English
Hear the difference
Each word has natural, careful, and slow playback. Try listening without looking, then compare the mouth cues.
Word 1
then
adverb
At that time, next, or as a consequence.
US pronunciation
/ðen/
UK IPA
/ðen/
Hear three samples
How to pronounce it
Use a voiced TH followed by the short E vowel in “bed.”
Word 2
than
conjunction or preposition
Introduces the second part of a comparison.
US pronunciation
/ðæn/
UK IPA
/ðæn/
Hear three samples
How to pronounce it
The careful form uses the open A vowel in “cat”; the common weak form sounds like “thuhn.”
Sound contrast
How to tell them apart
Begin both with a voiced TH: place your tongue lightly between your teeth and turn on your voice. Keep then short and relaxed; open your jaw a little wider for the strong form of than.
Meaning and usage
What is the difference between then and than?
Use then to place events in sequence or refer to a time. Use than after comparative words such as more, less, taller, or better. In connected speech, than is often reduced to /ðən/, so sentence meaning is more dependable than the vowel alone.
Listen in context
Six example sentences
Context makes both the meaning and the natural rhythm easier to hear. Every sentence has its own playback.
Examples with
then
- Finish the report, then call me.
- I lived in Boston back then.
- If the door is locked, then use the side entrance.
Examples with
than
- This room is brighter than the kitchen.
- I would rather walk than wait.
- The ticket cost more than I expected.
Try it yourself
Find the words your listener may hear differently
These sounds can overlap in natural speech, so a transcript cannot prove that one pronunciation is right or wrong. Use it as one clue alongside context.