Word list activities: Silent b words (2024)

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This word list looks at words spelled with a silent b. These mb words are pronounced with the vowel sound m.

	bomb	The disposal squad quickly defused the bomb.
	climb	They set out to climb Mount Everest.
	crumb	The waiter brushed the crumb off the table.
	dumb	He was struck dumb with horror.
	lamb	The newborn lamb had to be fed by hand.
	limb	He lost a limb in the accident.
	numb	My fingers are numb with cold.
	thumb	I use my thumb to unlock my phone.
	plumber	We had to call out the plumber to fix the sink.
	tomb	The tomb of the dead hero has many visitors.
	womb	A baby spends nine months in the womb.
	catacomb	A catacomb is an underground cemetery.
	debt	Debt can cripple a country's economy.
	doubt	I doubt that we will make it on time.
	subtle	The girl gave her friend a subtle hint that it was time to leave the party.

Learn more about these words in Unit 22. Words with silent letters e.g. wrap, comb, sign, knight

Use the list: Silent b words

Learn this spelling list using the 'Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check' activity.

Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check

How to use:

Look and read the word.

Say the word. Click the speaker icon.

Cover the word.

Write the word.

Check your spelling.

bomb

climb

crumb

dumb

lamb

limb

numb

thumb

plumber

tomb

womb

Start the Listen and Spell Test

Print worksheets and activities: Silent b words

Printable word list - a useful printable resource of the word list.
Flash cards - a word on each card which enables a variety of games and activities.
Word Search, small printable version.

More worksheets and activities

Handwriting worksheets: Silent b words

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More handwriting worksheets

This word list was created by Spellzone. View more Spellzone course lists or curriculum word lists.

Other lists from Unit 22. Words with silent letters e.g. wrap, comb, sign, knight

Silent k words
Silent w words
Silent t words
Silent l words
Silent n words
Silent h words
Silent h words
Silent g words
Silent p words

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I'm a language and education enthusiast with a deep understanding of linguistics and language learning. I've explored various aspects of language, from phonetics to syntax, and have a particular interest in spelling and pronunciation patterns. My expertise extends to educational methodologies and effective learning strategies.

Now, let's delve into the concepts used in the article you provided. The article focuses on words with silent letters, specifically silent "b" in this case. The list includes words where the letter "b" is not pronounced but is present in the spelling. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts and words covered:

Silent "b" Words:
- bomb: The disposal squad quickly defused the bomb.
- climb: They set out to climb Mount Everest.
- crumb: The waiter brushed the crumb off the table.
- dumb: He was struck dumb with horror.
- lamb: The newborn lamb had to be fed by hand.
- limb: He lost a limb in the accident.
- numb: My fingers are numb with cold.
- thumb: I use my thumb to unlock my phone.
- plumber: We had to call out the plumber to fix the sink.
- tomb: The tomb of the dead hero has many visitors.
- womb: A baby spends nine months in the womb.
- catacomb: A catacomb is an underground cemetery.
- debt: Debt can cripple a country's economy.
- doubt: I doubt that we will make it on time.
- subtle: The girl gave her friend a subtle hint that it was time to leave the party.
Learning Activities:
- The article suggests using the "Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check" activity to learn the spelling of these words.
- Spelling games such as "Bouncing Baubles," "Against the Clock," "Mayan Temple," and "Monkey Business" are recommended.
- A "Listen and Spell" spelling test is provided for self-assessment.
Printable Resources:
- Printable word lists and flashcards are available for practice.
- Handwriting worksheets for silent "b" words are provided.
Additional Word Lists:
- The article mentions other word lists related to silent letters, such as silent "k," "w," "t," "l," "n," "h," "g," and "p" words.

This comprehensive approach combines auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning methods to enhance spelling proficiency, making it a valuable resource for language learners. If you have any specific questions or if there's anything else you'd like to explore within this topic, feel free to let me know!

Word list activities: Silent b words (2024)

FAQs

What are a list of silent B words? ›

Silent B words

The letter B likes to silently follow the letter M at the end of many words, such as in dumb, plumb, crumb, thumb, numb, succumb, lamb, limb, climb, tomb, comb, bomb, and womb. The letter B also seems to also slip in silently before the letter T in words like debt, doubt, and subtle.

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What is the rule for silent B? ›

Silent B. The letter 'b' can act as a silent letter when it comes before 't' or if it comes after 'm'. Words such as 'comb', 'tomb', 'bomb', 'debt', and 'doubt' are good examples of the 'b' acting as a silent letter.

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What are 20 silent B words? ›

List Of Silent B Words

Comb	/kəʊm/	A metallic, wooden or plastic tool with a row of teeth used to untangle and arrange hair
Lamb	/læm/	sheep's young one
Climb	/klaɪm/	ascend or go up
Tomb	/tuːm/	a large underground vault where dead bodies are buried
Thumb	/θʌm/	the first, short and thick finger on a hand

10 more rows

What are 10 words with a silent b? ›

Most silent b's come at the ends of words and just after m: bomb, climb, comb, crumb, dumb, lamb, limb, numb, plumb, thumb, tomb. Just when one starts to feel comfortable with the relative regularity of these, debt and subtle show up like a couple of toughs.

How to make teaching silent letters fun? ›

A fun way to introduce silent letters to students is to share a read aloud. Silent Letters Loud and Clear is a silly read aloud that students are sure to enjoy. Have students listen and write down any words they see or hear that might have a silent letter. Compare lists at the end of the read aloud.

Learn More Now ›

What is the quiet classroom game? ›

The Quiet Classroom Game: A Class-Wide Intervention to Increase Academic Engagement and Reduce Disruptive Behavior.

Learn More Now ›

What are the silent way activities in the classroom? ›

Silence can be used to help students correct their own errors. Teachers can remain silent when a student makes a mistake to give them time to self-correct; they can also help students with their pronunciation by mouthing words without vocalizing, and by using certain hand gestures.

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Why do some words have a silent B? ›

WE OWE the silent 'b' to the fact that centuries ago our ancestors pronounced a b-sound: climb was Old English climban, and bomb comes from Italian bomba. The b-sound was lost by about 1300. It leaves traces to the present day, however, in pairs such as climb-clamber, crumb-crumble.

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What are the silent letters B and K? ›

Examples of silent letters in English words include the “b” in “comb,” the “k” in “knee,” the “h” in “honest,” the “g” in “gnome,” and the “s” in “island.” These letters are written but not pronounced when speaking the word.

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What word starts with silent B? ›

Check your spelling.

bomb.
climb.
crumb.
dumb.
lamb.
limb.
numb.
thumb.

More items...

Show Me More ›

Does debt have a silent B? ›

Debt is derived through the Middle English word dette, from the Old French dette or dete. Note the conspicuous absence of "b." Some scholars in those dark days we refer to as the Middle Ages sure did.

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What are some lists of B words? ›

Some of the B words for kids are ball, banana, boil, bake, bar, bear, bare, been, beat, boat, beaf, black, bird, bat, ban, bank, balm, bark, birth, berth, bask, basket, bingo, binge, bloom, big, bigger, biggest, best, boost, boast, beast, etc.

What is a silent B? ›

What is the origin of the silent 'b' at the end of English words such as lamb, comb, crumb and bomb? WE OWE the silent 'b' to the fact that centuries ago our ancestors pronounced a b-sound: climb was Old English climban, and bomb comes from Italian bomba. The b-sound was lost by about 1300.

Get More Info Here ›

What is a 4 letter B word? ›

What are some of the 4 letter words that start with B? Some of the 4 letter words that start with B are been, beak, beat, bear, book, bore, boat, beam, boom, bull, bunk, buck, etc. These are the words you can introduce to the little ones for better vocabulary skills.

What words have a silent B in the middle? ›

Silent B Words

B is silent when it comes before t or after m – bomb, climb, comb, debt, doubt, dumb, numb, plumber, subtle, subpoena, thumb, tomb, womb.

Keep Reading ›