Silent Letters in English: A Guide for Learners

English spelling is not always the same as pronunciation. One of the biggest challenges is silent letters—letters we write but do not pronounce. Silent letters often come from history: Old English, French, Latin, or Greek.

This guide shows common silent letters, example words, with meanings and pronunciation.

Silent B

The b is silent when it comes after m.

• lamb (/læm/) – a young sheep

• climb (/klaɪm/) – to go up

• limb (/lɪm/) – arm, leg, or branch

• comb (/koʊm/) – a tool for hair

• tomb (/tuːm/) – a grave

• dumb (/dʌm/) – unable to speak (or slang: stupid)

• numb (/nʌm/) – without feeling

• thumb (/θʌm/) – the short, thick finger

Silent C

The c is sometimes silent in French loanwords.

• indict (/ɪnˈdaɪt/) – to formally accuse of a crime

• victuals (/ˈvɪtlz/) – food, supplies

• muscle (/ˈmʌsəl/) – tissue that moves the body

Silent CH

• yacht (/jɒt/) – a large boat for pleasure or sport

Silent D

• Wednesday (/ˈwenzdeɪ/) – the third day of the workweek

• handsome (/ˈhænsəm/) – good-looking

• handkerchief (/ˈhæŋkərtʃiːf/) – a small cloth for the nose

Silent E

The final -e often makes the vowel long but is not pronounced.

• late (/leɪt/) – not on time

• save (/seɪv/) – to keep safe

• life (/laɪf/) – opposite of death

• note (/noʊt/) – a short message

• clue (/kluː/) – a hint or sign

• blue (/bluː/) – a color

Silent G

At the beginning of some words:

• gnaw (/nɔː/) – to chew hard

• gnome (/noʊm/) – a small garden figure

• gnat (/næt/) – a small flying insect

In words from French:

• foreign (/ˈfɔːrən/) – from another country

• sign (/saɪn/) – a mark, symbol, or board with words

• reign (/reɪn/) – the rule of a king or queen

Silent GH

• night (/naɪt/) – time when it is dark

• light (/laɪt/) – opposite of dark, or not heavy

• high (/haɪ/) – tall, far above the ground

• daughter (/ˈdɔːtər/) – a female child

• weight (/weɪt/) – how heavy something is

But in words like enough, tough, laugh, gh = /f/.

Silent H

• honest (/ˈɒnɪst/) – truthful

• hour (/aʊər/) – 60 minutes

• honor (/ˈɑːnər/) – respect

• heir (/ɛər/) – person who will inherit property or title

• vehicle (/ˈviːɪkəl/) – car, bus, truck, etc.

Silent K

The k is silent before n.

• knife (/naɪf/) – cutting tool

• knee (/niː/) – joint between thigh and leg

• know (/noʊ/) – to have knowledge

Silent L

• calm (/kɑːm/) – peaceful, quiet

• walk (/wɔːk/) – to move on foot

• talk (/tɔːk/) – to speak

• half (/hæf/) – 50% of something

• would, could, should → L is not pronounced

Silent N

• autumn (/ˈɔːtəm/) – season between summer and winter

• column (/ˈkɑːləm/) – upright support, also a section in a table

• condemn (/kənˈdɛm/) – to strongly disapprove

Silent P

The p is silent before n, s, t in Greek words.

• psychology (/saɪˈkɒlədʒi/) – study of the mind

• pneumonia (/njuːˈmoʊniə/) – lung disease

• psalm (/sɑːm/) – a sacred song, usually biblical

• pterodactyl (/ˌtɛrəˈdæktɪl/) – a prehistoric flying reptile

Silent S

• island (/ˈaɪlənd/) – land surrounded by water

• aisle (/aɪl/) – a passage between seats

• viscount (/ˈvaɪkaʊnt/) – a British noble rank

Silent T

• castle (/ˈkæsəl/) – a large fort or strong house

• listen (/ˈlɪsən/) – to pay attention to sound

• often (/ˈɔːfən/ or /ˈɒfn/) – many times

• whistle (/ˈwɪsəl/) – a high sound made with lips

Silent W

• write (/raɪt/) – to put words on paper

• wrong (/rɔːŋ/) – not correct

• wrist (/rɪst/) – part of the arm before the hand

• sword (/sɔːrd/) – a weapon with a blade

Quick Tips for Learners

1. Learn by groups: kn- words, gn- words, -mb words, etc.

2. Pay attention to sound, not spelling.

3. Practice reading aloud: it helps connect spelling with pronunciation.