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
T
Quit a lot of silent T in English
Silent before CH
Catch
Sketch
Stitch
Watch
Witch
Normally silent in words ending in STEN
Christen
Fasten
Listen
Normally silent in words ending in STLE
Castle
Hustle
Whistle
French words that end in ET
Ballet
Buffet
Gourmet
Most of the time we pronounce ET at the end of the word.
Random words:
Asthma
Christmas
Mortgage
Soften (either one of them is OK)
U
Often after a G and before a vowel
Colleague
Guard
Guest
Guide
Guitar
W
If a word start with WR the W is always silent
Wrap
Wrinkle
Wrist
Write
Wrong
Often, if a word begins with WHO, the W is often silent:
Who
Whoever
Whole
Random words:
Answer
sword
two
X
There aren’t many words with a silent X
Faux
faux /fəʊ/
(made in imitation; artificial)
Y
It’s very rarely silent
Prayer
Mayor
(in america mayor se pronuncia con la Y)
Z
There aren’t many words with a silent Z
Laissez-faire - / lɛseɪ’fɛː/
(the policy of leaving things to take their own course, without interfering. )
Rendezvous
