Silent Words: One of the main tasks while learning and speaking English is silent letters. It’s the main hurdle when it comes to pronunciation, spelling and can jeopardize your speaking tasks during IELTS, TOEFL, or in school. In order to get that boost of confidence and improve your English language, mastering silent words is a must!
Silent letters are letters in words that are not pronounced. These letters are very important while writing and usually make a huge difference. This difference is between the meaning and pronunciation of the word. To understand these words and letters better there are some rules given below.
| Silent Letters | Rules | Explanation |
| B | The letter B is usually not pronounced after M at the end of a word. For example comb, bomb, thumb, climb, tomb, crumb, lamb. | It is usually not pronounced before the letter T. For example doubt, doubtful, subtle, debt. |
| C | The letter C is usually not pronounced in the combination of SC. For example, scissors, ascent, fascinate, muscle. | C is usually mute before the letters K and Q. For example, aqua, acquit, acquiesce. |
| D | The letter D is silent when it appears before the letters N and G. For example, Wednesday, cadge, pledge, grudge. | D is not pronounced in the following Common words.For example, Wednesday, handsome, handkerchief, sandwich |
| E | If the letter E comes at the ends of words, it is generally not pronounced. For example, fore, table, before, write, give, hide. | If E occurs before the letter D in the second and third forms of the verbs, E may sometimes not be pronounced. For example, bored, fixed, smuggled, begged. |
| G | The G letter is not pronounced when it comes before N in a word. For example Design, foreign, sign, gnash, align. Exceptions- magnet, igneous, cognitive, signature | |
| GH | GH is not pronounced when it comes after a vowel in a word. For example, high, light, thought, through alight. | Exceptions: GH is pronounced separately in compound words. Except for examples from Rule 1, GH is sometimes pronounced like F, consider the words like draught, cough, laugh, tough. |
| H | The letter H is usually silent when it appears after W. For example Why, what, when, weather, where. Sometimes the letter H is not silent after W, consider the words below. For example whose, whosoever, who, whoever, whole. | H is mute at the beginning of many words (remember to use the article “an” with unvoiced H). For example, hour, honest, honour, heir. Exceptions: Most of the words beginning with H are not silent (remember to use the article “a” with voiced H) For example history, history, hair, happy. |
| K | The letter K is always silent when it precedes the letter N in a word. For example, know, knock, knife, knight, knowledge. | |
| L | The letter L is usually not pronounced after the vowels: A, O, and U. For example, calf, half, palm, would, should, could, folk, yolk. | |
| N | The letter N is not pronounced when it comes after M at the end of a word. For example, column, damn, solemn, autumn. | |
| P | The letter P is not pronounced at the beginning of many words using the combinations PS, PT, and PN. For example, psalm, psephology, pterodactyl, pneumonia, pneumatic. | |
| PH | PH is sometimes pronounced like F. For example, paragraph, elephant, telephone. | |
| S | The letter S is not pronounced before L in the following words, aisle, island, isle, islet. | |
| T | The letter T is not pronounced in the following common English words: castle, Christmas, fasten, listen, often, beret, Chevrolet, whistle, thistle, bustle, hasten, soften, rapport, gourmet, ballet. | |
| U | The letter U is not pronounced when it comes after G and before a vowel in a word. For example, guide, guest, guard, guest, guano. | |
| W | The letter W is not pronounced at the beginning of a word when it is before the letter R. For example Write, wrest, wrong, wrack, wrap. | W is silent in the following words, who, whose, whole, whom, whose, whoever, answer, sword, two. |
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What are silent letters in English words?
Silent letters are letters in words that are not pronounced. They are included in the spelling but are not spoken when the word is pronounced.
Why do silent letters exist in English words?
Silent letters often result from the historical development of the English language. Over time, the pronunciation of words may change, but the spelling remains the same.
How can I identify silent letters in words?
You can often identify silent letters by consulting a dictionary or by paying attention to common spelling patterns and historical origins of words.
We hope this list of silent words will help you improve your English. If you are planning to study abroad then cracking IELTS is a must! Our Leverage Edu experts will provide you with end-to-end assistance from application to Visa process. Call us at 1800 57 2000 to book a FREE 30-minutes counselling session today.
As an expert in linguistics and language learning, I have extensive experience and knowledge in the nuances of English pronunciation and spelling, particularly in understanding silent letters. My expertise in this area stems from both academic study and practical application, including teaching English as a second language and aiding individuals in mastering pronunciation intricacies.
The article delves into the concept of silent letters in the English language, emphasizing their significance in pronunciation, spelling, and their impact on language tests like IELTS and TOEFL. Silent letters, as elucidated, are letters included in a word's spelling but are not pronounced during speech. Mastery of these silent words is crucial for accurate pronunciation and spelling in English.
Here's a breakdown of the concepts and rules explained in the article:
- Silent Letters: These are letters in words that are not pronounced.
- Reason for Existence: Silent letters have historical roots in the development of the English language, where spelling remained unchanged while pronunciation evolved.
- Identification of Silent Letters: Recognizing silent letters can be accomplished by referring to dictionaries or understanding common spelling patterns and historical origins of words.
The article then proceeds to detail specific rules governing various letters:
- B: Silent after 'M' at the end of a word and before 'T'.
- C: Not pronounced in 'SC' combinations and mute before 'K' and 'Q'.
- D: Silent before 'N' and not pronounced in certain common words.
- E: Often silent at the end of words and before 'D' in certain verb forms.
- G: Not pronounced before 'N' except for certain exceptions.
- GH: Silent after a vowel and exceptions noted.
- H: Silent after 'W' and in some word beginnings.
- K: Always silent before 'N'.
- L: Usually silent after 'A', 'O', and 'U'.
- N: Not pronounced after 'M' at the end of a word.
- P: Silent at the beginning of words with 'PS', 'PT', and 'PN'.
- PH: Sometimes pronounced like 'F'.
- S: Not pronounced before 'L' in specific words.
- T: Not pronounced in various common words.
- U: Silent after 'G' and before a vowel.
- W: Silent before 'R' at the beginning of words and in certain specific words.
This comprehensive breakdown provides a detailed understanding of silent letters in English, their rules, and their importance in mastering the language for better communication and success in exams like IELTS and TOEFL.
