Practice
Silent letters in English: hear and spell common patterns
You can hear one sound at the start of knife, but the spelling begins with two letters: kn. Silent letters are written letters that are not normally pronounced in a particular word.
Recognize several common silent-letter patterns and use pronunciation to help, not replace, accurate spelling.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
write the whole word /raɪt ðə həʊl wɜːd/
The short answer
A silent letter is written but not normally said in a word. Learn common groups such as kn in know, wr in write, b after m in climb, and k before l in talk, then check each new word because English has exceptions.
Please write your name on the form.
Why it works: The w in write is silent. The word begins with the /r/ sound.
5 more examples
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I know the answer to that question.
The k is silent at the beginning of this common kn word.
Not this:I
nowthe answer to that question. What changes: Now is a different word about time. Keep the k when you mean have information. -
She wrote a short message after lunch.
The initial w is silent in write and wrote.
Not this:She
rotea short message after lunch. What changes: Rote is a real but different word. It does not mean wrote. -
We watched the climber reach the top.
The b is silent after m in climb and climber.
Not this:We watched the
climerreach the top. What changes: The spelling is incorrect. Keep b in the climb word family. -
The children laughed at the funny picture.
In this word, gh is silent. The ending is pronounced /ft/.
Not this:The children
laffedat the funny picture. What changes: The spelling is incorrect even though it follows the sound. -
Please walk slowly across the wet floor.
The l is silent before k in walk.
Not this:Please
wakslowly across the wet floor. What changes: The spelling is incorrect. Remember the letter group alk in walk.
Read the full guide
Start with the sound you can hear, then look at the whole spelling. A silent letter often appears in a repeated letter group, so learn the group with a small set of useful words rather than trying to memorize a long list.
Hear the word, then study its spelling
Silent letters can make spelling feel unpredictable because your ear does not receive every written letter. The useful question is not which letter is missing from the sound. Ask which letter group the word contains and whether you have met that group before.
The train arrived early this morning.
In train, every letter contributes to the usual pronunciation. That is different from a word such as knee, where k is written but not said.
My knee hurts after the long walk.
Knee begins with the /n/ sound. Keep the written k when you spell the word.
Can you hear the k at the beginning of knee?
No. The word begins with /n/, but its spelling starts with kn.
Recognize kn at the start of common words
In many familiar words beginning with kn, the k is silent and n is the first sound. Learn a small family together: know, knee, knife, knock, and knit. Seeing the shared beginning can help you write the word after you hear it.
He knocked on the door twice.
The word begins with /n/. The k remains part of the standard spelling.
She used a sharp knife to cut the bread.
Knife has the same silent initial k pattern as know.
Which spelling is correct for the body part: nee or knee?
Use knee. The k is silent, but it belongs in the spelling.
Learn wr as a spelling group
Several common words beginning with wr have a silent w. The first sound is /r/. Write, wrong, wrist, and wrap are useful examples. Do not confuse written form with a different word that only sounds similar in quick speech.
Please write your phone number clearly.
Write starts with the /r/ sound. The w helps form the conventional spelling.
He hurt his wrist while carrying the box.
Wrist is another common word where w is silent before r.
What is the first sound in wrong?
It is /r/. Do not pronounce the written w in ordinary speech.
Notice b after m at the end of a word
In several familiar words ending in mb, the b is silent. You hear /m/ at the end. Remember the spellings of comb, climb, lamb, thumb, and bomb as individual words and word families.
I found my comb in the bathroom.
Comb ends in the /m/ sound. Do not add a separate /b/ sound.
The child held up her thumb.
Thumb also has silent b after m.
Which final sound do you hear in lamb: /m/ or /mb/?
You hear /m/. The b is written but normally silent.
Use gh and l patterns carefully
The letters gh are silent in words such as light, night, and caught. They are not silent in every word. In enough and laugh, gh contributes the /f/ sound. The letter l is silent in walk, talk, and calm, but it is pronounced in many other words. These patterns need examples and care.
The street lights came on at night.
In light and night, gh is not pronounced as a separate sound.
We talked quietly in the calm room.
Talk and calm contain a written l that is usually silent.
Is gh silent in enough?
No. In enough, gh helps represent the /f/ sound. Check the complete word before deciding how the letters work.
Build a spelling habit that works
When you meet a new word, listen to a reliable dictionary recording, look at the full spelling, and write one short sentence with it. Group words by a pattern only after you know their spellings. A personal list with one example sentence is more useful than a list of isolated letters.
I wrote the address on the envelope.
Write the full form slowly once, then use it in a sentence. This connects spelling with meaning.
The bright lamp was beside the bed.
Lamp ends with a pronounced p, so do not extend the silent mb pattern to every word with m.
What should you do if a new word does not fit the pattern you expected?
Check its spelling and pronunciation in a reliable dictionary, then record the word as its own example.
Before you go
Remember this
Silent letters stay in the spelling even when you do not say them. Notice useful groups such as kn, wr, mb, gh, and lk. Write the full word, listen for the spoken form, and use a dictionary when the pattern does not give a clear answer.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Silent letters in English: hear and spell common patterns"
What is a silent letter?
A silent letter appears in a word's spelling but does not usually have its own sound. In comb, for example, the final b is written but not pronounced.
I know the answer to that question.
Why does English have silent letters?
English spelling reflects older pronunciations, borrowed words, and spelling history. You do not need to learn that history to use the words, but it explains why a word such as knife keeps its initial k.
I now the answer to that question.
Is the k always silent in kn words?
In common words such as knee, know, and knock, the initial k is normally silent. Learn the whole word, because spelling patterns are helpful clues rather than a complete rule for every English word.
She wrote a short message after lunch.
Is gh always silent in English?
No. Gh is silent in light, but it helps make the /f/ sound in enough. Check a dictionary when you meet a new gh word.
She rote a short message after lunch.
How can I remember words with silent letters?
Keep a short word family and one sentence for each word. For example, write thumb with a note that the final b is silent, then use it in a sentence about a hand.
We watched the climber reach the top.
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