Silent Letters

A
Silent A If a word ends in ICALLY That rules doesn’t apply to all words that end in ALLY
• Ideally
•Automatically • Generally
•Basically • vocally

•Chaotically

•Logically

•Practically

•Specifically

•surgically
 B
Silent B If a word When MB is in the middle of a word, MOST Silent B : Occasionally after M in the middle of a
ends in MB of the time you pronounce both letters word

• limb • Ambigous • Climber

• Numb • member • Plumber

• Succumb • Number Silent B In a few words before T

• Thumb • Symbol • Debt • Debtor

• Tomb • Umbrella • Doubt • Doubtful

• Womb • suble • subtlety

 C
Silent C after an S and before an E or an I exception
•Descent •Muscle
•Fascinate

•Flourescent

•Scene

•Scent

•Science

•Scissors
 D
Silent D before G Common random words
•Badge •Handkerchief
•Bridge •Handsome
•Budget •Sandwich
•Edge •Wednesday
•Fridge

•Judge

•Knowledge
 E
At the end of a word Sometimes the E affects This rule doesn’t apply We only pronounce the
the ponounciation of the if E is the only vowel E if the verb ends in /d
•Before
previous vowel sound or /t/
•Be
•Bridge
•cap -> cape •Ended
•He
•Example
•Cod -> code •Included
•She
•Give
•Hat -> hate •Started
•The
•Have
•Quit -> quite •Wanted
•Some
•Sit -> site
 G
Silent G if a word begins with GN If GN is in the middle of a GH is usually silent after a
•Grant word, most of the time we vowel sound
pronounce the G
•Gnaw •Daughter
•Gnome •Ignore
•Night
•Campaign •Magnificent
•Thought
•Design •Signature
•Through
•Foreign

•Reign
•Weigh

•Sign
 H
Silent H if a word begins with GH Normally if a word begins with Sometimes after a C
•Gherkin WH
• Chemistry
•Ghetto Some native speakers pronounce • Mechanic
WH as /hw/
•Ghost
• School
•Whale
• Stomach
If a word begins with RH •What
• Technology
•Rhinoceros •When
•Rhythm •White
•Rheumatic
•Why
•Rhinoplasty
 H
CH is more often A few words start British English Americal English
pronounced /t∫/: with a silent H
•Herb •Herb
•Chair •Heir
•Herbal •Herbal
Sometimes it’s even •Honest
pronounced /∫/:
•Honour Most of the time if a word starts
•Chef with an H you pronounce it
•Hour
•House

•Hat
 I
We basically always pronounce I

Exception:

business
 K
Silent K if a word begins with KN

•Knee

•Knife

•Knight

•Knot

•Know
 L
Most of the time we Silent L
pronounce L • Calf
•Could
•Ball • Half
•Should
•Bold • Chalk
•Would
• Talk
•Result
• Walk •Salmon

• Balm •Almond (optional)

• Calm

• Palm
 M
There aren’t many words with a silent M

Mnemonic
 N
Silent N if a word ends in MN

•Autumn

•Column

•Condemn

•Damn

•Hymn
 P
If a word begins with PS If a word begins with PN or PT Common random words

•Pseudoscience •Pnuematic •Coup

•Psychiatrist •Pneumonia •Cupboard

•Psychic •Pterodactyl •Raspberry

•Psychology •Receipt
R
British English American English British English : silent if followed by a
consonant or at the end of a word
•Fork •Fork
The teacher is
•Start •Start
Always right
•Star •Star

•Teacher •Teacher
 S
Silent S (no rules)

•Aisle

•Bourgois

•Debris

•Island

•Isle
 T
Silent T before CH Silent if a word French words that Common random
ends in STEN end in ET words
•Catch
•Christen •Ballet •Asthma
•Sketch
•Fasten •Buffet •Christmas
•Stitch
•Listen •Gourmet •Mortgage
•Watch
•Soften
•Witch
•Often
 U
Silent U often after a G and before a vowel

•Colleague

•Guard

•Guest

•Guide

•Guitar
 W
Silent W if a word begins with WR Silent W often if a word Common random words
begins with WHO
•Wrap •Answer
•Who
•Wrinkle •Sword
•Whoever
•Wrist •Two
•Whole
•Write

•Wrong
 X
There aren’t many words with a silent X

Faux
 Y
It’s very rarely silent

•Prayer

•Mayor or mayor
 Z
There aren’t many words with a silent Z

The most common

•Laissez-faire

•Rendezvous