The Silent Letters of English
Why do we write letters that we don't say? English spelling is full of these "ghost" letters. Mastering them is key to better spelling and clearer pronunciation.
Why Are They Silent?
English has a long history, borrowing words from Latin, Greek, French, and German. Over centuries, the etymology remained in the spelling, but the pronunciation changed to be easier to say.
Silent K
Rule: Always silent when it comes before the letter 'n' at the start of a word.
- knee
- knife
- knowledge
- knight
- knock
Silent B
Rule: Usually silent after 'm' at the end of a word, or before 't'.
- climb (after m)
- lamb (after m)
- thumb (after m)
- debt (before t)
- doubt (before t)
Silent L
Rule: Often silent after the vowels 'a', 'o', 'u'.
- walk / talk
- half / calf
- salmon
- would / should
- yolk (of an egg)
Silent W
Rule: Always silent at the start of a word before 'r'.
- write
- wrist
- wrong
- sword (Exception: silent after 's')
- answer (Exception: silent inside)
The Tricky GH & GN
The 'gh' combination is famous for being difficult. At the end of words like 'though' or 'high', it is completely silent.
The 'g' is also silent when it comes before 'n' at the start or end of a word:
Quick Check
Can you find the silent letter in these words?