The chart below highlights many common words that have a letter that is not pronounced.
silent b |
bomb, debt, limb, thumb, crumb, doubt, numb, tomb, climb, dumb, plumber, comb, lamb, subtle |
silent c |
indict, muscle |
silent ch |
yacht |
silent d |
adjective, adjust, handsome, Wednesday |
silent g |
align, campaign, diaphragm, resign, assign, champagne, foreign, sign, benign, design, reign |
silent gh |
bright, fight, light, bought, fought, night, caught, height, weigh, drought, high, weight |
silent h |
ghost, heir, honest, hour, honor, herb, vehicle, exhibit |
silent k |
knee, knife, know, knot |
silent l |
calm, folk, psalm, talk, chalk, half, salmon, walk, could, Lincoln, should, would |
silent n |
hymn, autumn, column |
silent p |
cupboard, pneumonia, psalm, psychology, psychic, receipt |
silent s |
aisle, debris, island, Arkansas, Illinois |
silent t |
ballet, Chevrolet, mortgage, gourmet, bouquet, Christmas, often, debut, buffet, fasten, whistle, soften, castle, listen, fillet, rapport |
silent th |
asthma, months,* clothes* |
silent w |
answer, sword, toward |
*You will hear some Americans lightly pronounce the th sound when saying these words but most just omit it.
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