Silent letters

Some words have a letter that you write but don't say: a silent letter. They often come in pairs that you can learn: ⟦kn⟧ (⟦knee⟧), ⟦wr⟧ (⟦write⟧), ⟦mb⟧ (⟦lamb⟧), ⟦gn⟧ (⟦gnome⟧), ⟦stle⟧ (⟦castle⟧).

Key facts

  • Silent ⟦k⟧ before ⟦n⟧: ⟦knee⟧, ⟦knife⟧, ⟦knock⟧, ⟦knowledge⟧. Silent ⟦w⟧ before ⟦r⟧: ⟦write⟧, ⟦wrong⟧, ⟦wrist⟧ (and in ⟦answer⟧, ⟦sword⟧).
  • Silent ⟦b⟧ after ⟦m⟧ and before ⟦t⟧: ⟦lamb⟧, ⟦comb⟧, ⟦thumb⟧, ⟦climb⟧, ⟦doubt⟧, ⟦debt⟧.
  • Silent ⟦t⟧ in ⟦stle⟧ and ⟦sten⟧: ⟦castle⟧, ⟦listen⟧, ⟦fasten⟧. Silent ⟦g⟧ before ⟦n⟧: ⟦gnome⟧, ⟦sign⟧, ⟦design⟧.
  • Silent ⟦h⟧: ⟦honest⟧, ⟦ghost⟧, ⟦rhino⟧, ⟦school⟧. Silent ⟦l⟧: ⟦half⟧, ⟦walk⟧, ⟦could⟧, ⟦calm⟧. Silent ⟦n⟧ after ⟦m⟧: ⟦autumn⟧, ⟦column⟧.
  • Silent ⟦c⟧ after ⟦s⟧: ⟦science⟧, ⟦scissors⟧. Silent ⟦u⟧ after ⟦g⟧ and ⟦b⟧: ⟦guitar⟧, ⟦guess⟧, ⟦build⟧, ⟦biscuit⟧. Silent ⟦s⟧: ⟦island⟧.

Worked examples

Example 1

Which letter is silent in ⟦knuckle⟧?

  1. ⟦kn⟧ at the start of a word: the ⟦k⟧ is silent.
  2. We say it like ⟦nuckle⟧, but we write ⟦knuckle⟧.

Answer: ⟦k⟧

Example 2

Spell the word: a baby sheep.

  1. The word sounds like ⟦lam⟧.
  2. After ⟦m⟧ at the end of a word there is often a silent ⟦b⟧: ⟦lamb⟧.

Answer: ⟦lamb⟧

Example 3

Find the spelling mistake: ⟦Please lisen carefully.⟧

  1. ⟦listen⟧ has a silent ⟦t⟧, like ⟦castle⟧ and ⟦fasten⟧.
  2. ⟦Please listen carefully.⟧

Answer: ⟦listen⟧