Silent letters are letters that appear in spelling but are not pronounced. They are a common feature of English and often cause confusion. Organizing silent letters by type makes it easier to recognize patterns and remember correct pronunciation.
Silent Letters in English
Silent B
The letter b is usually silent when it appears after m or before t.
- Doubt
- Debt
- Numb
- Thumb
- Plumber
- Climb
- Bomb
Silent G
The letter g is often silent when it comes before n, especially in words related to design or planning.
- Design
- Campaign
- Reign
- Gnome
- Gnarl
- Gnaw
Silent K
The letter k is always silent when it appears before n at the beginning of a word.
- Knee
Silent L
The letter l is silent in certain common words, often before m, k, or f.
- Talk
- Almond
- Salmon
- Yolk
- Palm
- Balm
Silent T
The letter t is often silent in combinations such as -sten and -stle.
- Listen
- Castle
- Soften
- Whistle
- Christmas
- Mortgage
- Gourmet
- Apostle
- Bristle
- Bustle
Silent N
The letter n is silent in some words ending in -mn.
- Column
- Autumn
- Damn
- Hymn
- Condemn
- Solemn
Silent D
The letter d is silent in a few common words, especially in fixed spellings.
- Wednesday
- Handkerchief
- Handsome
Silent P
The letter p is silent in many words of Greek origin. It is also silent in some everyday words where it appears before t or within a consonant cluster.
- Psycho
- Pseudo
- Pneumonia
- Receipt
- Cupboard
- Raspberry
Silent S
The letter s is silent in a small number of irregular words, often related to land or water.
- Island
- Aisle
- Isle
Silent C
The letter c is silent before s in some words, usually in formal or academic vocabulary.
- Ascend
- Ascent
Special Case: CH Pronounced /k/
In some words of Greek origin, ch is pronounced as /k/. This is not a fully silent letter, but it often confuses learners because the sound does not match the spelling.
- Ache
- Anchor
- Archaeology
- Chaos
- Character
Silent Letters Summary
The table below highlights the most common silent-letter patterns for quick review.
| Silent Letter | Common Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| B | After M / before T | doubt, thumb, plumber |
| G | Before N | design, gnome, reign |
| K | Before N (word start) | knee |
| L | Before M, K, F | talk, salmon, palm |
| T | -sten / -stle | listen, castle, whistle |
Last Updated on January 23, 2026
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some words are repetitive such as pneumonia