<P> In early modern times, French, German and English all expanded this by analogy to words for which there is no etymological reason, but for the most part the modern spelling systems have eliminated this . Examples of unetymological ⟨ th ⟩ in English are the name of the River Thames from Middle English Temese and the name Anthony (the ⟨ th ⟩ is sometimes pronounced / θ / under the influence of the spelling) from Latin Antonius . </P> <P> In English, ⟨ th ⟩ for / t / can also occur in loan - words from French or German, such as Neanderthal . The English name Thomas has initial / t / because it was loaned from Norman . </P> <P> In the transcription of Australian Aboriginal languages ⟨ th ⟩ represents a dental stop, / t̪ / . </P> <P> In Irish and Scottish Gaelic, ⟨ th ⟩ represents the lenition of / t / . In most cases word - initially, it is pronounced / h / . For example: Irish and Scottish Gaelic toil (tɛlj)' will' → do thoil (də hɛlj)' your will' . </P>

Where does the th sound in english come from