Did you know that many English words have silent letters — letters you write but don’t pronounce?
Silent letters can make English spelling and pronunciation confusing, but learning them can greatly improve your reading, writing, and speaking skills.
In this article, you’ll learn what silent letters are, see common examples, and discover tips to remember them easily.
What Are Silent Letters?
A silent letter is a letter that appears in a word but is not pronounced when you say it aloud.
For example:
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The letter b in thumb is silent.
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The letter k in knife is silent.
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The letter w in write is silent.
Silent letters often come from old English or French spellings that changed in pronunciation over time but stayed the same in writing.
Words with Silent Letters
Words with Silent Letter H
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| ache | /eɪk/ |
| anchor | /ˈæŋ.kər/ |
| archaeology | /ˌɑː.kiˈɒ.lə.dʒi/ |
| architect | /ˈɑː.kɪ.tekt/ |
| chaos | /ˈkeɪ.ɒs/ |
| character | /ˈkær.ɪk.tər/ |
| charisma | /kəˈrɪz.mə/ |
| chemical | /ˈkem.ɪ.kəl/ |
| chlorine | /ˈklɔː.riːn/ |
| choir | /kwaɪ.ər/ |
| chord | /kɔːd/ |
| choreograph | /ˈkɒr.i.ə.ɡrɑːf/ |
| chrome | /krəʊm/ |
| echo | /ˈek.əʊ/ |
| ghost | /ɡəʊst/ |
| honest | /ˈɒn.ɪst/ |
| hour | /aʊər/ |
| mechanic | /məˈkæn.ɪk/ |
| monarchy | /ˈmɒn.ə.ki/ |
| orchestra | /ˈɔː.kɪ.strə/ |
| psychic | /ˈsaɪ.kɪk/ |
| rhythm | /ˈrɪð.əm/ |
| scheme | /skiːm/ |
| school | /skuːl/ |
| stomach | /ˈstʌm.ək/ |
| tech | /tek/ |
| what | /wɒt/ |
| when | /wen/ |
| where | /weər/ |
| whether | /ˈweð.ər/ |
| which | /wɪtʃ/ |
| while | /waɪl/ |
| white | /waɪt/ |
| why | /waɪ/ |
Words with Silent Letter K
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| knack | /næk/ |
| knead | /niːd/ |
| knee | /niː/ |
| kneel | /niːl/ |
| knew | /njuː/ |
| knickers | /ˈnɪk.əz/ |
| knife | /naɪf/ |
| knight | /naɪt/ |
| knitting | /ˈnɪt.ɪŋ/ |
| knob | /nɒb/ |
| knock | /nɒk/ |
| knot | /nɒt/ |
| know | /nəʊ/ |
| knowledge | /ˈnɒ.lɪdʒ/ |
| knuckle | /ˈnʌk.əl/ |
Words with Silent Letter B
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| aplomb | /əˈplɒm/ |
| bomb | /bɒm/ |
| climb | /klaɪm/ |
| comb | /kəʊm/ |
| coulomb | /ˈkuː.lɒm/ |
| crumb | /krʌm/ |
| debt | /det/ |
| doubt | /daʊt/ |
| dumb | /dʌm/ |
| jamb | /dʒæm/ |
| lamb | /læm/ |
| limb | /lɪm/ |
| numb | /nʌm/ |
| plumber | /ˈplʌ.mər/ |
| subtle | /ˈsʌt.əl/ |
| succumb | /səˈkʌm/ |
| thumb | /θʌm/ |
| tomb | /tuːm/ |
| womb | /wuːm/ |
Words with Silent Letter C
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| ascend | /əˈsend/ |
| ascent | /əˈsent/ |
| conscience | /ˈkɒn.ʃəns/ |
| conscious | /ˈkɒn.ʃəs/ |
| crescent | /ˈkres.ənt/ |
| descend | /dɪˈsend/ |
| disciple | /dɪˈsaɪ.pəl/ |
| fascinate | /ˈfæs.ɪ.neɪt/ |
| muscle | /ˈmʌs.əl/ |
| obscene | /əbˈsiːn/ |
| scene | /siːn/ |
| scent | /sent/ |
| science | /ˈsaɪ.əns/ |
| scissors | /ˈsɪz.əz/ |
Words with Silent Letter U
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| biscuit | /ˈbɪs.kɪt/ |
| build | /bɪld/ |
| circuit | /ˈsɜː.kɪt/ |
| disguise | /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ |
| guilty | /ˈɡɪl.ti/ |
| league | /liːɡ/ |
| rogue | /rəʊɡ/ |
| vague | /veɪɡ/ |
| guess | /ɡes/ |
| guest | /ɡest/ |
| guide | /ɡaɪd/ |
| guitar | /ɡɪˈtɑː/ |
| antique | /ænˈtiːk/ |
Words with Silent Letter E
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| age | /eɪdʒ/ |
| breathe | /briːð/ |
| bridge | /brɪdʒ/ |
| change | /tʃeɪndʒ/ |
| clothes | /kləʊðz/ or /kləʊz/ |
| gene | /dʒiːn/ |
| hate | /heɪt/ |
| like | /laɪk/ |
| love | /lʌv/ |
| please | /pliːz/ |
| vegetable | /ˈvedʒ.tə.bəl/ |
Words with Silent Letter L
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| almond | /ˈɑː.mənd/ |
| balm | /bɑːm/ |
| calf | /kɑːf/ |
| calm | /kɑːm/ |
| chalk | /tʃɔːk/ |
| could | /kʊd/ |
| folk | /fəʊk/ |
| half | /hɑːf/ |
| palm | /pɑːm/ |
| salmon | /ˈsæm.ən/ |
| should | /ʃʊd/ |
| talk | /tɔːk/ |
| walk | /wɔːk/ |
| would | /wʊd/ |
| yolk | /jəʊk/ |
Words with Silent Letter W
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| wrangle | /ˈræŋ.ɡəl/ |
| wrap | /ræp/ |
| wreath | /riːθ/ |
| wreck | /rek/ |
| wrench | /rentʃ/ |
| wrestle | /ˈres.əl/ |
| wriggle | /ˈrɪɡ.əl/ |
| wring | /rɪŋ/ |
| write | /raɪt/ |
| wrong | /rɒŋ/ |
| answer | /ˈɑːn.sər/ |
| sword | /sɔːd/ |
| towards | /təˈwɔːdz/ |
| two | /tuː/ |
Words with Silent Letter G
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| align | /əˈlaɪn/ |
| assign | /əˈsaɪn/ |
| benign | /bɪˈnaɪn/ |
| campaign | /kæmˈpeɪn/ |
| champagne | /ʃæmˈpeɪn/ |
| cologne | /kəˈləʊn/ |
| consign | /kənˈsaɪn/ |
| design | /dɪˈzaɪn/ |
| feign | /feɪn/ |
| foreign | /ˈfɒr.ən/ |
| reign | /reɪn/ |
| resign | /rɪˈzaɪn/ |
| sign | /saɪn/ |
Words with Silent Letter P
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| coup | /kuː/ |
| cupboard | /ˈkʌb.əd/ |
| pneumonia | /njuːˈməʊ.ni.ə/ |
| pseudo | /ˈsuː.dəʊ/ |
| psychiatrist | /saɪˈkaɪə.trɪst/ |
| psychic | /ˈsaɪ.kɪk/ |
| psychology | /saɪˈkɒ.lə.dʒi/ |
| psychotherapy | /ˌsaɪ.kəʊˈθer.ə.pi/ |
| psychotic | /saɪˈkɒt.ɪk/ |
| raspberry | /ˈrɑːz.bər.i/ |
| receipt | /rɪˈsiːt/ |
💡 Tips for Remembering Silent Letters
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Read aloud — you’ll start to notice which letters aren’t pronounced.
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Group similar words — e.g., know, knife, knee.
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Listen to native speakers — pay attention to how words are spoken.
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Use flashcards with both spelling and pronunciation.
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Practice with tongue twisters — they improve pronunciation and memory.
Ellie
Thursday 13th of January 2022
Thanks u
Pansak Sirilert
Thursday 6th of August 2020
Thank you.