Silent Letters

Silent letters in English spelling are letters that are written but not pronounced.

Common Silent Letters#

Silent B#

• Often found after M and before T.
• Examples: lamb, thumb, debt, subtle.

Silent C#

• Found in the combination sc before E, I, and Y.
• Examples: science, scissors, muscle.

Silent D#

• Found in certain words.
• Examples: Wednesday, handkerchief, edge.

Silent E#

• Commonly found at the end of words and changes the pronunciation of the vowel before it.
• Examples: name, rate, bake, love.

Silent G#

• Found before N.
• Examples: gnome, gnat, sign, foreign.

Silent H#

• Found at the beginning of words (when followed by a vowel) and after G.
• Examples: hour, honor, ghost, rhythm.

Silent K#

• Found at the beginning of words before N.
• Examples: knight, knee, know.

Silent L#

• Found in certain words, often before K or D.
• Examples: walk, talk, could, half.

Silent N#

• Found at the end of words, particularly after M.
• Examples: autumn, hymn.

Silent P#

• Found at the beginning of words before S, T, or N.
• Examples: psychology, pneumonia, receipt.

Silent S#

• Found in certain words.
• Examples: island, aisle.

Silent T#

• Found in certain words.
• Examples: listen, castle, often, ballet.

Silent U#

• Found in certain words.
• Examples: guitar, biscuit, guest.

Silent W#

• Found at the beginning of words before R.
• Examples: write, wrinkle, wrist.