Learn the rules of silent letters in English!
Many words in English have letters that we do not pronounce. These are called silent letters.
Silent letters exist in English because of historical and linguistic reasons. English has also been less “regulated” than many other languages.
This aspect of English can be very frustrating for English learners, but there are some rules which can help us.
Note: This is not a complete list of words with silent letters, but these are some of the most common examples. (A PDF with a list of these words without the explanations is at the end of this page.)
A
If a word ends in -ically, most people do not pronounce the A.
For example:
- automatically
- basically
- chaotically
- logically
- practically
- specifically
- surgically
❗ Be careful. That rule does not apply to all words that end in -ally.
For example, in these words, we pronounce the A:
– vocally
– ideally
– generally
B
We do not usually pronounce B if it is after M at the end of a word.
For example:
- bomb
- climb
- comb
- crumb
- dumb
- lamb
- limb
- numb
- plumb
- succumb
- thumb
- tomb
- womb
B is also usually silent in words that are derived from the words above.
For example:
- climber
- numbness
- plumber
❗ When MB is in the middle of a word, most of the time we pronounce both letters.
For example, in these words:
- ambiguous
- member
- number
- symbol
- umbrella
There are also a few words in which the B is silent before the letter T.
These words are:
- debt
- doubt
- subtle
This also applies to words that are derived from the words above.
For example:
- debtor
- doubtful
- subtlety
C
C is almost always silent if it comes after an S AND is before an E or an I.
For example:
- descent
- fascinate
- fluorescent
- scene
- scent
- science
- scissors
It is also silent after the S in the word:
- muscle
D
D is silent before the letter G.
For example:
- badge
- bridge
- budget
- edge
- fridge
- judge
- knowledge
Some common words that also have a silent D are:
- handkerchief
- handsome
- sandwich
- Wednesday
E
There are many silent E’s in English.
Normally if an E is at the end of a word, we do not pronounce it.
For example:
- before
- bridge
- give
- some
Sometimes E affects the pronunciation of the previous vowel.
For example, “cap” is pronounced /kæp/, but cape is pronounced /keɪp/. Here the previous vowel is A and in “cape” it is pronounced like the letter in the alphabet.
Similarly:
- pet: /pet/
↳ Pete: /piːt/ (the first E is pronounced like the letter E)
- quit: /kwɪt/
↳ quite: /kwaɪt/ (the I is pronounced like the letter I)
Here is another helpful rule. If the past form of a verb ends in -ed, normally we do not pronounce the E.
For example:
- called
- helped
- looked
- seemed
❗ We pronounce the E in an -ed ending if the base form ends in a /d/ or a /t/ (a D sound or a T sound).
For example:
– ended
– included
– started
– wanted
Click here for a full explanation of -ed endings:
https://learnenglishgrammar.com/how-to-pronounce-ed-endings/
G
G is silent if it is before an N at the beginning of a word. (But there are not many words like this.)
For example:
- gnat
- gnaw
- gnome
It is also usually silent before an N at the end of a word.
For example:
- design
- campaign
- foreign
- reign
- sign
❗ Be careful. If GN is in the middle of a word, most of the time we pronounce the G.
For example, in words like:
- ignore
- magnificent
- signature
The combination GH is usually silent after a vowel sound.
For example:
- daughter
- night
- thought
- through
- weigh
H
If a word begins with GH, the H is silent.
For example:
- gherkin
- ghetto
- ghost
Similarly, if a word starts with RH, the H is silent.
For example:
- rhinoceros
- rhythm
There are also many scientific and medical terms that start with RH.
For example:
- rheumatic
- rhinoplasty
If a word starts with WH, the H is normally silent.
For example:
- whale
- what
- when
- white
- why
❗ Some native speakers pronounce WH as HW. This is common, for example, in Ireland, Scotland and the Southern United States.
H is also sometimes silent after a C.
For example:
- chemistry
- mechanic
- school
- stomach
- technology
❗ This only occurs sometimes. CH is more often pronounced /tʃ/ (like in “chair”), and sometimes it is even pronounced /ʃ/ (like in “chef”).
There are also a few words that start with a silent H.
For example:
- heir
- honest
- honour (US: honor)
- hour
In American English, the H is also silent in the words “herb” and “herbal”.
Click here for a full explanation of words that start with a silent H:
https://learnenglishgrammar.com/silent-h-in-english/
I
We basically always pronounce I.
The main exception is:
- business
K
K is silent before the letter N at the beginning of words.
For example:
- knee
- knife
- knight
- knot
- know
L
Unfortunately, there is no real rule here. Most of the time we pronounce the letter L (like in “ball”, “fold” or “result”). You just need to learn the exceptions.
Some of the most common ones are:
- calf
- half
- chalk
- talk
- walk
- balm
- calm
- palm
It is also silent in the words:
- could
- should
- would
And:
- salmon
In the word “almond” the L is optional. Most speakers of British English do not pronounce it, whereas speakers of American English usually do.
M
There are not many words with a silent M.
One notable example is:
- mnemonic
N
We do not pronounce N if it comes after M at the end of a word.
For example:
- autumn
- column
- condemn
- damn
- hymn
O
There is no rule for the letter O.
Some common words with a silent O are:
- jeopardy
- leopard
- people
P
The P is silent before S at the beginning of a word
For example:
- pseudoscience
- psychiatrist
- psychic
- psychology
It is also silent before N and T at the beginning of a word, but there are not many words like this in English.
Some examples are:
- pneumatic
- pneumonia
- pterodactyl
Some other words with a silent P are:
- coup
- cupboard
- raspberry
- receipt
R
In standard British English (and Australian English), the R is silent if it is followed by a consonant or if it is at the end of a word.
For example:
- fork
- start
- star
- teacher
❗ In standard American English, the R is pronounced in these words. In British English, anR at the end of a word is usually pronounced if the following word starts with a vowel sound.
S
Unfortunately, there are not really any rules for the letter S, but luckily there are not that many words with a silent S in English.
The most important examples are:
- aisle
- bourgeois
- debris
- island
- isle
T
T is silent before CH.
For example:
- catch
- stitch
- sketch
- watch
- witch
It is normally silent in words that end in -sten.
For example:
- christen
- fasten
- listen
It is also normally silent in words that end in -stle.
For example:
- castle
- hustle
- whistle
The T is silent in words taken directly from French and that end in -et.
For example:
- ballet
- buffet
- gourmet
❗Most of the time we pronounce -et at the end of word.
Some other common words with a silent T are:
- asthma (the H is also silent here)
- Christmas
- mortgage
- soften
Another example is:
- often
❗Some people pronounce the T in “often” and some people do not.
U
U is often silent after G and before a vowel.
For example:
- colleague
- guard
- guest
- guide
- guitar
W
If a word starts with WR, the W is always silent.
For example:
- wrap
- wrinkle
- wrist
- write
- wrong
If a word starts with WHO, the W is often silent.
For example:
- who
- whoever
- whole
Some other common words with a silent W are:
- answer
- sword
- two
X
There are not many words in English with a silent X. The most common one is probably:
- faux
“Faux” comes from French.
Y
Y is very rarely silent. It is silent in:
- prayer
It is also often silent in:
- mayor
❗There are some people who pronounce the Y in “mayor”, especially speakers of American English.
Z
Z is rarely silent in English.
The most common examples are in two words that come from French:
- laissez-faire
- rendezvous