Silent Letters Flashcards
A
If a word ends in ICALLY, most people does not pronounce the A
Automatically
Basically
Chaotically
Logically
Practically
Specifically
Surgically
but be careful: the rule does not apply to all words that end in ALLY
Idially
vocally
Generally
B
Usually we don’t pronounce the B if the word ends in MB
Bomb
Climb
Comb
Crumb
Dumb
Lamb
Limb
Numb
Succumb
thumb
Womb
Occasionally after M in the of a word
climber
Plumber
When MB is the middle of a word, most of the time, we pronounce both letters:
Ambigous
Member
Number
Symbol
Umbrella
In a few words before a T
Debt
Doubt
Subtle
Debtor
Doubtful
Subtlety
C
The C is almost silently in all words after an S before an E or I
Descent
Fascinate
Fluorescent
Scene
Scent
Science
Scissors
Exception:
Muscle
D
D is silent before the letter G
Badge
Bridge
Budget
Edge
Fridge
Judge
Knowledge
Common random words with a silent D:
Handkerchief
Handsome
Sandwich
Wednesday
E
There are a lot of silent E in the English language
Normally, an E at the end of a word is not pronounced
Before
Bridge
Example
Give
Have
Some
Sometimes the E affects the pronunciation of the previous vowel sound:
Cap - Cape
Cod - Code
Hat - Hate
Quit - Quiet
Sit - Site
This rule does not apply if E is the only vowel.
Be
He
She
Normally, E is silent in ED verb ending
Called
Helped
Looked
Seemed
We only pronounce the E if the verb ends in /d/ or /t/
Ended
Included
Started
Wanted
G
If a word begins with GN
Gnat
Gnaw
Gnome
If a word ends in GN
Campaign
Design
Foreign
Reign
Sign
If GN is in the middle of a word, most of the time, we pronounce the G
Ignore
Magnificent
Signature
The combination GH is usually silent after a vowel sound:
Daughter
Night
Thought
Through
weigh
:H
If a word begins with GH, the H is silent
Gherkin
Ghetto
Ghost
If a word starts with RH, the H is silent
Rhinoceros
Rhythm
Rheumatic
Rhinoplasty
If the word begins with WH, the H is normally silent:
Whale
What
When
White
Why
Some native speakers pronounce WH as HW
H is also silent after a C (some times)
Chemistry
Mechanic
School
Stomach
Technology
CH is more often pronounce /tʃ/
Chair
Some times is even pronounce /ʃ/
Chef
There are also a few words that start with a silent H:
Heir
Honest
Honour
Hour
In American English, the H aren’t pronounced in:
Herb
Herbal
(however, the H is pronounced in British English)
Most of the time, if a word starts with an H, we pronounce it:
House
Hat
I
We basically always pronounce I
Exception:
Business
K
If a word begins with KN
Knee
Knife
Knight
Knot
Know
L
There’s no real rule here
Most of the time we pronounce
the L like in:
Ball
Fold
Result
With the L you just need to know the exceptions:
Calf
Half
Chalk
Talk
Walk
Balm
Calm
Palm
Could
Should
Would
Salmon
The L is optional in:
Almond (either is right)
M
There aren’t many words with a silent M
Mnemonic
N
We don’t pronounce the N if it comes after M at the end of a word:
Autumn
Column
Condemn
damn
hymn
P
Don’t pronounce the P at the beginning of a word before an S:
Pseudoscience
Psychiatrist
Psychic
Psychology
It is also silen in front PN or PT at the beginning of a word:
Pneumatic
Pneumonia
Pterodactyl
Random words with silent P:
Coup
Cupboard
Raspberry
Receipt
R
In British English: the R is silent if followed by a consonant or at the end of a word.
British English
Fork
Start
Star
Teacher
American English pronounce the R
The teacheris always right (unir las palabras)
Se pronuncia la R si la palabra que sigue comienza con una vocal
S
No real rules
Aisle
Bourgeois
Debris
Island
Isle
