Silent letters occur in spelling but are not pronounced. Words contiaing silent letters can be useful examples for demonstrating the sometimes inconsistent relationship between English spelling and pronunciation. Such words can also be valuable in introductory lessons to remind students to think beyond spelling when cueing words.

Examples

b

bomb, bombing, climb, comb, crumb, debt, doubt, dumb, lamb, limb, plumber, subtle, thumb,

c

muscle, science

ch

yacht

d

handkerchief

g

champagne, gnash, gnaw, lasagna, reign, resign, sign

h

heir, herb, honest, honor, hour

k

knead, knee, kneel, knew, knife, knight, knock, knot, know, knowledge

l

calf, salmon, talk, walk

m

mnemonic

n

autumn, column, condemn, damn, solumn,

p

psalm, pterodactyl, psychiatry, psychology

s

apropos, bourgeois, chablis, debris, Illinois, island, isle, rendez-vous

t

castle, Christmas, nestle, rustle, thistle

w

wrench, wrestle, wriggle, wrist, wrong

x

faux

z

rendez-vous