229 Words with Silent Letters in English with Useful Tips

Silent letters in English! Learn a full list of silent letters from A to Z to improve your pronunciation! A silent letter is a letter that appears in a particular word but not pronounced such as the ‘b’ in ‘douBt’/daʊt /.

There are a lot of silent letters in English, and they create problems for both native and non-native speakers of English because they make it more difficult to guess the spelling of many spoken words or the pronunciation of many written words.

Silent Letters List

Here is the list of Silent Letters in English:

Words With Silent B

Aplomb
Bomb
Climb
Comb
Coulomb
Crumb
Debt
Doubt
Dumb
Jamb
Lamb
Limb
Numb
Plumb
Subtle
Succumb
Thumb
Tomb
Womb

Words With Silent C

Abscess
Abscend
Ascent
Conscience
Conscious
Crescent
Descend
Descent
Disciple
Evanesce
Fascinate
Fluorescent
Muscle
Obscene
Resuscitate
Scenario
Science
Scene
Scissors

Words With Silent D

Bridge
Edge
Handkerchief
Handsome
Handful
Grandson
Ledger
Sandwich
Wednesday

Words With Silent E

Plaque
Vegetable
Bridge
Clothes
Hate
Name
Like
Breathe

Words With Silent G

Align
Assign
Benign
Champagne
Cologne
Consign
Design
Feign
Foreign
Gnarly
Gnash
Gnat
Gnaw
Gnome
Gnomic
High
Light
Reign
Resign
Sign

Words With Silent H

Anchor
Archeology
Architect
Archive
Archives
Borough
Chaos
Character
Characteristic
Charisma
Chemical
Choreograph
Chorus
Christian
Christmas
Echo
Ghost
Heir
Herbs
Honest
Honor
Hour
Psychology
Rhino
Schedule
Scheme
School
Technology
Thailand
Thigh
Thorough
Vehicle
Weigh
What
When
Where
Whether
Which
While
White
Why

Related Learn English Pronunciation

Words With Silent K

Knack
Knave
Knead
Knee
Kneel
Kneel
Knew
Knickers
Knife
Knight
Knit
Knob
Knock
Knoll
Knot
Know
Knowledge
Knuckle

Words With Silent L

Would
Should
Calf
Half
Salmon
Talk
Yolk

Words With Silent P

Corps
Coup
Cupboard
Pneumatic
Pneumonia
Psalm
Pseudo
Pseudonym
Psoriasis
Psychiatrist
Psychiatry
Psychologist
Psychology
Psychotherapy
Psychotic
Pterodactyl
Raspberry
Receipt

Words with Silent PH

Alphabet
Epiphany
Paragraph
Sophomore
Telephone

Words With Silent S

Aisle
Island
Debris
Isle
Viscount

Words With Silent T

Apostle
Ballet
Bristle
Bustle
Castle
Christmas
Fasten
Glisten
Gourmet
Hasten
Hustle
Listen
Moisten
Often
Rapport
Soften
Thistle
Whistle

Words With Silent N

Autumn
Column
Condemn
Damn
Hymn
Solemn
Chimney
Government

Words With Silent U

Baguette
Biscuit
Build
Circuit
Disguise
Guess
Guest
Guide
Guild
Guilt
Guise
Guitar
Rogue
Silhouette

Words With Silent W

Awry
Playwright
Sword
Wrack
Wrangle
Wrap
Wrapper
Wrath
Wreak
Wreath
Wreck
Wrestle
Wriggle
Wring
Wrinkle
Wrist
Writ
Write
Wrong
Wrote

Types of Silent Letters

There are different types of silent letters in English words, including silent vowels and silent consonants. Silent vowels are present in words such as “bread,” “dread,” “head,” and “thread,” where the letter “a” is silent. Silent consonants are present in words such as “design,” “listen,” and “thought,” where the letters “g,” “t,” and “gh” are silent, respectively.

Most silent letters can be found in both British English and American English. However, there are some differences in the use of silent letters between the two dialects. For example, the “u” in “colour” and “favour” is silent in British English but not in American English.

In conclusion, silent letters are an interesting aspect of the English language that can sometimes cause confusion in pronunciation and spelling. Understanding the origins and types of silent letters can help improve one’s grasp of the language.

How to Spell Words with Silent Letters

Spelling words with silent letters can be tricky, but with some practice and knowledge of common spelling patterns, it can be easier to master. Here are some tips for spelling words with silent letters and common mistakes to avoid.

Tips for Spelling Words with Silent Letters

Memorize common silent letter patterns: There are certain letter combinations that often result in silent letters, such as “kn” in “know” or “mb” in “comb”. By memorizing these patterns, you can more easily recognize when a word contains a silent letter.
Use mnemonics: Mnemonic devices can help you remember how to spell words with silent letters. For example, to remember that “receipt” has a silent “p”, you could think of it as “I before E, except after C, and when it sounds like ‘ay’ as in ‘neighbor’ and ‘weigh'”.
Look up unfamiliar words: If you come across a word with a silent letter that you’re not sure how to spell, look it up in a dictionary or search engine to confirm the spelling.

Common Spelling Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting silent letters: One of the most common mistakes when spelling words with silent letters is forgetting that the letter is supposed to be there. For example, spelling “knight” as “nite” or “comb” as “com” would be incorrect.
Adding extra letters: Another common mistake is adding extra letters where they don’t belong. For example, spelling “doubt” as “doubht” or “subtle” as “subtel” would be incorrect.
Mixing up similar words: Some words with silent letters can be easily confused with similar words that are spelled differently. For example, “aisle” and “isle” or “hour” and “our” sound similar but are spelled differently.

By keeping these tips and common mistakes in mind, you can improve your spelling skills and feel more confident when spelling words with silent letters.

Using Silent Letters in English Words

Silent letters are a unique feature of the English language that can be confusing for non-native speakers and even native speakers. However, they play an essential role in the language, and understanding how to use them correctly can help improve one’s writing and communication skills. In this section, we will explore how silent letters are used in compound words, homophones, and contractions.

Related Learn English Pronunciation

Compound Words

Compound words are words that are formed by combining two or more words. In some cases, the compound word may have a silent letter that is not pronounced. For example, the word “butterfly” is a compound word that is made up of “butter” and “fly.” The letter “e” in “butter” is silent, but it changes the pronunciation of the word when combined with “fly.”

Homophones

Homophones are words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings. Silent letters are often used in homophones to distinguish between the different spellings and meanings of the words. For example, the words “knight” and “night” are homophones. The letter “k” in “knight” is silent, but it distinguishes the word from “night,” which means the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

Contractions

Contractions are words that are formed by combining two words and omitting one or more letters. Silent letters are often omitted in contractions to make the words easier to say and write. For example, the contraction “can’t” is formed by combining “cannot” and omitting the letter “o.” The letter “o” is silent in “cannot,” so it does not affect the pronunciation of the contraction.

In summary, silent letters play an important role in the English language, particularly in compound words, homophones, and contractions. Understanding how to use them correctly can help improve one’s writing and communication skills.

Spelling Words with Silent Letters | Pictures

FAQs on Silent Letters

Q: What are silent letters?

Silent letters are letters in a word that are not pronounced when the word is spoken aloud. They are present in many English words, and their existence can sometimes cause confusion in pronunciation and spelling. In this section, we will define what silent letters are, explore their origins, and examine the different types of silent letters.

Q: Do all English words have silent letters?

A: No, not all English words have silent letters. In fact, many English words do not have any silent letters at all. However, silent letters are fairly common in English and can be found in many words.

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