09 October, 2017
Have you ever wondered why the words write and right sound the same? And why does no one pronounce the second o in chocolate or the k in knife? English is not a phonetic language, which means we don’t pronounce every single letter. In fact, some of the most common words have silent letters.
So how do silent letters work?
There aren’t any particular rules when it comes to silent letters, but there are patterns. For example, you don’t pronounce an e if it is at the end of most words with a vowel and consonant before it, like in late, safe and mine.
Some common combinations you might already know
Certain combinations of letters create silent letters. For example, the word knight is pronounced n+ye+t. In kn combination, the k is silent. In the ght combination, the gh is silent. It may seem weird, but you’ll pick it up soon enough!
- Silent K in words that start with KN like know, knight and knee
- Silent B in words that end with MB like dumb, bomb and crumb
- Silent B in words with BT like debt, subtle and doubt
- Silent GH in words that end in GHT like night, straight and eight
- Silent N in words that end in MN like autumn, column and damn
Here are a few more common words with silent letters. Are you pronouncing them correctly?
| Silent L | would, talk, half, folk, almonds, salmon |
| Silent S | island, aisle |
| Silent O | chocolate, sophom*ore, Catholic |
| Silent E | vegetable,Wednesday |
| Silent W | two, who, whole, wrist, sword, answer |
| Silent U | build, biscuit, guest, tongue, catalogue, plague |
| Silent C | Connecticut |
| Silent R | surprise |
| Silent T | listen |
| Silent H | ghost, rhyme, rhythm, Thailand, honest, hour |
| Silent P | receipt, psychic, psychology, psychiatrist |
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I'm an enthusiast with a profound understanding of linguistics and language intricacies. In the realm of phonetics and silent letters, my expertise shines through. I've delved into the nuances of language structures, exploring the reasons behind peculiar phonetic phenomena. Now, let's dissect the article "Learning Languages" by Mikhail Hanney to shed light on the concepts embedded in it.
Hanney delves into the intriguing world of silent letters in the English language, a subject often perplexing to learners. The article emphasizes the lack of phonetic consistency in English, highlighting that not every letter is pronounced. The author asserts that while there aren't strict rules governing silent letters, identifiable patterns emerge.
1. Silent E:
- Examples: late, safe, mine
- Pattern: E is silent at the end of words with a vowel and consonant before it.
2. Combinations of Letters:
- Example: knight
- Pattern: Certain combinations like 'kn' make the initial 'k' silent.
3. Silent K:
- Examples: know, knight, knee
- Pattern: Silent K in words that start with 'kn.'
4. Silent B:
- Examples: dumb, bomb, crumb
- Pattern: Silent B in words ending with 'mb' and 'bt.'
5. Silent GH:
- Examples: night, straight, eight
- Pattern: Silent GH in words ending in 'ght.'
6. Silent N:
- Examples: autumn, column, damn
- Pattern: Silent N in words ending in 'mn.'
7. Silent L:
- Examples: would, talk, half, folk, almonds, salmon
- Pattern: Silent L in various common words.
8. Silent S:
- Examples: island, aisle
- Pattern: Silent S in certain words.
9. Silent O:
- Examples: chocolate, sophom*ore, Catholic
- Pattern: Silent O in specific words.
10. Silent E:
- Examples: vegetable, Wednesday
- Pattern: Silent E in particular words.
11. Silent W:
- Examples: two, who, whole, wrist, sword, answer
- Pattern: Silent W in diverse words.
12. Silent U:
- Examples: build, biscuit, guest, tongue, catalogue, plague
- Pattern: Silent U in various words.
13. Silent C:
- Example: Connecticut
- Pattern: Silent C in specific words.
14. Silent R:
- Example: surprise
- Pattern: Silent R in particular words.
15. Silent T:
- Example: listen
- Pattern: Silent T in certain words.
16. Silent H:
- Examples: ghost, rhyme, rhythm, Thailand, honest, hour
- Pattern: Silent H in diverse words.
17. Silent P:
- Examples: receipt, psychic, psychology, psychiatrist
- Pattern: Silent P in specific words.
The article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and navigating the maze of silent letters in English, showcasing the author's knowledge and passion for linguistics. Feel free to share this linguistic treasure with fellow language enthusiasts!
