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English Language Improvement: Learning Silent Words

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By:CANAM Group
Updated On:May 31,2023 04:03 PM IST

In English pronunciation, a silent letter—a term used informally—is a letter or letter combination of the alphabet that is usually not pronounced in a word. Examples include the ‘b’ in subtle, the ‘c’ in scissors, the ‘g’ in design, the -‘t’ in listen, and the ‘gh’ in thought. One of the main tasks while learning and speaking English is silent letters. It’s one main hurdle when it comes to pronunciation, spellings or intonation which can jeopardize your speaking tasks during IELTS.

English Language Improvement: Learning Silent Words

In English pronunciation, a silent letter—a term used informally—is a letter or letter combination of the alphabet that is usually not pronounced in a word. Examples include the ‘b’ in subtle, the ‘c’ in scissors, the ‘g’ in design, the -‘t’ in listen, and the ‘gh’ in thought. One of the main tasks while learning and speaking English is silent letters. It’s one main hurdle when it comes to pronunciation, spelling or intonation which can jeopardize your speaking tasks during IELTS.

Silent letters make a huge difference in the way we write and pronounce words. There are many different rules that can help you better understand these silent pieces of vocabulary, so read below!

Rules for Silent Letters and Words:

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, and climb, tomb, crumb, and 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, and begged.
G	The G letter is not pronounced when it comes before N in a word. For example Design, foreign, sign, gnash, and 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, honor, 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, and 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, and 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.	---------------------------------------------------------

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.

List of Silent Letters and Words

Letters	Words
Silent B	Aplomb, bomb, climb, comb, coulomb, crumb
Silent C	abscess, ascent, conscience, conscious, crescent
Silent D	bridge, edge, handkerchief, handsome, handful, grandson
Silent E	hate, name, breathe
Silent K	knack, knave, knead, knee, kneel, knell
Silent L	would, should, calf, half, salmon, talk
Silent P	psychology, pneumonia, pseudo, psychiatrist, psychiatary, psychotherapy
Silent U	baguette, biscuit, build, building, built, circuit
Silent N	autumn, column, condemn, damn, hymn, solemn

Silent T

apostle, bristle, bustle, castle, fast, hustle

FAQ

Why do English words have silent letters?

English spelling as well as pronunciation might get challenging as a result of silent letters, which often arise from historical changes in articulation of boring words adopted from other languages.

How can I pronounce words with silent letters more accurately?

To improve pronunciation, rules for silent letters should be studied and practiced. Frequent interaction with spoken English, including listening to native speakers and imitating the pronunciation can also help improve your skills.

Are there any exceptions to the rules of silence letters?

Yes, there are exceptions to the rules of silent letters. Some words may not follow the typical patterns due to which it becomes essential to familiarize yourself with these exceptions by practicing.

Do silent letters affect the meaning of the word?

Silent letters alone do not alter the meaning of the word but they do impact the pronunciation and spelling which may result in difficulties in communication due to mispronouncing or omitting a silent letter.

How to remember the rules for silent letters?

To remember the rules, practice is crucial which can be done by engaging in regular reading, writing, and listening exercises. Using pronunciation guides, dictionaries and online resources can reinforce your understanding and retention of the rules.

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