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Silent Letters
American English Pronunciation
Most Common Silent Letter Combinations

"Silent Letters"
 
Listed are the most common silent letter combinations that give English as a second language students the most difficulties.
 
B,C,D,E,G,GH,H,K,L,N,P,S,T,U,W

  1. Silent B

    B is not pronounced when following M at the end of a word.

    climb
    crumb
    dumb
    comb

     

  2. Silent C

    C is not pronounced in the ending "scle"

    Muscle

     

  3. Silent D

    D is not pronounced in the following common words:

    handkerchief
    sandwich
    Wednesday

     

  4. Silent E

    E is not pronounced at the end of words and usually makes the vowel long.

    hope
    drive
    gave
    write
    site

     

  5. Silent G

    G is not often not pronounced when followed by an N

    champagne
    foreign
    sign
    feign

     

  6. Silent GH

    GH is not pronounced before T and at the end of many words

    thought
    through
    daughter
    light
    might
    right
    fight
    weigh

     
  7. Silent H

    H is not pronounced when following W. Some speakers whisper the H before the W.

    what
    who
    when
    where
    whether
    why

     

  8. Silent H

    H is not pronounced at the beginning of many words. Use the article "an" with unvoiced H. Here are some of the most common:

    hour
    honest
    honor
    heir
    herb

     

  9. Pronounced H

    H is pronounced at the beginning of these common words. Use the article "a" with voiced H.

    hill
    history
    height
    happy
    hangover

     

  10. Silent K

    K is not pronounced when followed by N at the beginning of a word.

    knife
    knee
    know
    knock
    knowledge

     

  11. Silent L

    L is often not pronounced before L, D, F, M, K.

    calm
    half
    salmon
    talk
    balk
    would
    should

     

  12. Silent N

    N is not pronounced following M at the end of a word.

    autumn
    hymn

     

  13. Silent P

    P is not pronounced at the beginning of many words using the suffix "psych" and "pneu".

    psychiatrist
    pneumonia
    psychotherapy
    psychotic

     

  14. Silent S

    S is not pronounced before L in the following words:

    island
    isle

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