List of the words with silent letters

A silent letter is a letter that is not pronounced, but it is written in a word.  There are a lot of words with silent letters in English.

Silent letters
Silent letters

Here are the simple tips to remember the silent letters.

  • B is often silent after M (mb) and before T (bt):  bomb, debt
  • C is silent after S (sc): muscle, scene
  • E is silent at the end of the words: name; hope
  • G is often silent before N (gn): gnarled, foreign
  • H is silent after W (wh): what, when
  • K is often silent before N (kn): knife, know
  • L is often silent before M, F, K, D, (lm, lf, lk, ld): calm, half, yolk, could
  • N is often silent after M (mn): autumn, column
  • P is silent in the suffix “psych”: psychology
  • T is often silent after S (st), and at the end of the words of French origin: castle, ballet
  • U is silent before I (uI) and E (ue): guilty, guess
  • W is often silent before R (wr) and H (wh): wrong , what

 Here is a list of words with silent letters

  • B: bomb – climb – crumb –lamb – limb – comb –numb – plumb – thumb – tomb – womb – debt – doubt;
  • C: ascent – fascinate – muscle – scene – scissors – crescent – descent – scenario – scent;
  • Ch: yacht;
  • D: handkerchief – handsome – Wednesday – sandwich;
  • G: gnarled – gnash – gnat – gnaw – gnome  –  align  – campaign – design – foreign – malign – reign – sign – assign;      
  • H: haute cuisine – heir  – honour  – hour – ghost – what – when – where – why – while – whether –white - rhythm;
  • K: knack – knee – kneel – knife – knight – knit – knob – knot – know – knuckle;
  • L: balm – calm – calf – half – yolk – palm – psalm – chalk – talk – walk – could – should – would – colonel – almond – salmon;
  • N: autumn – column – condemn – damn – hymn – solemn;
  • P: psalm – psephology – psychic – ptarmigan – pterodactyl – psychology – receipt – corps – coup;
  • S: aisle – island – debris – Illinois
  • T: bristle – fasten – listen – mortgage – soften – thistle – wrestle – castle – hustle – chestnut - ballet –buffet – chalet – crochet – valet – debut - beret;
  • U: biscuit – build – circuit – disguise – guilty – league – rogue – vague – guess – guest – guide – guitar-antique – cheque;
  • W: wrangle – wrap – wreath – wreck – wrench – wrestle – wriggle – wring – write – wrong – answer – sword – towards –  two – whole  – who – whom – whose;

Silent Letters Quiz 1
Silent Letters Quiz 2
 

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