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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
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Silent B
B is not pronounced when following M at the end of a word.
climb crumb dumb comb
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Silent C
C is not pronounced in the ending "scle"
Muscle
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Silent D
D is not pronounced in the following common words:
handkerchief sandwich Wednesday
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Silent E
E is not pronounced at the end of words and usually makes the vowel long.
hope drive gave write site
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Silent G
G is not often not pronounced when followed by an N
champagne foreign sign feign
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Silent GH
GH is not pronounced before T and at the end of many words
thought through daughter light might right fight weigh
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Silent H
H is not pronounced when following W. Some speakers whisper the H before the W.
what who when where whether why
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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
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Pronounced H
H is pronounced at the beginning of these common words. Use the article "a" with voiced H.
hill history height happy hangover
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Silent K
K is not pronounced when followed by N at the beginning of a word.
knife knee know knock knowledge
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Silent L
L is often not pronounced before L, D, F, M, K.
calm half salmon talk balk would should
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Silent N
N is not pronounced following M at the end of a word.
autumn hymn
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P is not pronounced at the beginning of many words using the suffix "psych" and "pneu".
psychiatrist pneumonia psychotherapy psychotic
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Silent S
S is not pronounced before L in the following words:
island isle
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