Silent letters
A simple guide
A is not
pronounced before
-lly
Ex romantically, logically, artistically,
musically
B is not pronounced
Before -t as in doubt, debt, subtle
After -m as in womb, climb, tomb, comb, bomb,
plumber, thumb…
Exceptions are to obtain, remember
C is usually silent
- when it comes after -s and before -e, -i
e -y as in science, scissors, muscle,
yacht
D is normally silent
if it comes before -n
or -g
Ex.: Wednesday, pledge, grudge,
sandwich, handsome
-E is generally silent at the
end of words as in
face, cute, mate,stripe,
hate and tube
G is generally not pronounced if it
comes before n
Align
Foreign
Exceptions to this rule are
magnet, signature
It is not pronounced if it
comes after a vowel and
before an h as in light,
through, high
Exceptions are in compound
words as doghouse or
foghorn
H is normally silent
after w as in
Why, what
- Exceptions to this rule is when there is
-o after h as in who
- at the beginning of some words as
honest, hour, honor
-K is generally silent
before -n as in to
know, knife, knight
L is generally not pronounced if it
comes after -a, -o, -u
Calf
Should
Yolk
N is normally silent
after m at the end of
words
Autumn
column
damn
-P is generally silent
in letter combinations
as -ps, -pn, pt used
at the beginning of
words as in
psychology,
pterodactyl,
pneumonia
S is generally not pronounced if it
comes before l
Island
Isle
T is normally silent in
the letter group sten at
the end of words or in
style or French words
Listen
Moisten
damn
Nestle
Whistle
Castle
Ballet
Beret
-U is generally silent
after g at the
beginning of words
as in guess and
guide
W is generally not pronounced if it comes
before r at the beginning of words
Wrong
Write
Wrap
W is silent if it is before-ho at
the beginning of a word as in
who or whole
Random words as swan,
sword, two
X is normally silent
in French words
Faux
-Z is generally silent
in French words as
rendezvous

Silent letters

  • 1.
  • 2.
    A is not pronouncedbefore -lly Ex romantically, logically, artistically, musically
  • 3.
    B is notpronounced Before -t as in doubt, debt, subtle After -m as in womb, climb, tomb, comb, bomb, plumber, thumb… Exceptions are to obtain, remember
  • 4.
    C is usuallysilent - when it comes after -s and before -e, -i e -y as in science, scissors, muscle, yacht
  • 5.
    D is normallysilent if it comes before -n or -g Ex.: Wednesday, pledge, grudge, sandwich, handsome
  • 6.
    -E is generallysilent at the end of words as in face, cute, mate,stripe, hate and tube
  • 7.
    G is generallynot pronounced if it comes before n Align Foreign Exceptions to this rule are magnet, signature It is not pronounced if it comes after a vowel and before an h as in light, through, high Exceptions are in compound words as doghouse or foghorn
  • 8.
    H is normallysilent after w as in Why, what - Exceptions to this rule is when there is -o after h as in who - at the beginning of some words as honest, hour, honor
  • 9.
    -K is generallysilent before -n as in to know, knife, knight
  • 10.
    L is generallynot pronounced if it comes after -a, -o, -u Calf Should Yolk
  • 11.
    N is normallysilent after m at the end of words Autumn column damn
  • 12.
    -P is generallysilent in letter combinations as -ps, -pn, pt used at the beginning of words as in psychology, pterodactyl, pneumonia
  • 13.
    S is generallynot pronounced if it comes before l Island Isle
  • 14.
    T is normallysilent in the letter group sten at the end of words or in style or French words Listen Moisten damn Nestle Whistle Castle Ballet Beret
  • 15.
    -U is generallysilent after g at the beginning of words as in guess and guide
  • 16.
    W is generallynot pronounced if it comes before r at the beginning of words Wrong Write Wrap W is silent if it is before-ho at the beginning of a word as in who or whole Random words as swan, sword, two
  • 17.
    X is normallysilent in French words Faux
  • 18.
    -Z is generallysilent in French words as rendezvous