The English language has a lot of silent letters. Silent letters cause difficulties for both native speakers and English learners, because they make the spelling of words different from their pronunciation.
Here’s a list of common words with silent letters from A to Z!
Silent A
artistically, logically, musically, romantically, stoically
Silent B
climb, comb, crumbs, debt, doubt, numb, subtle, thumb, tomb
Silent C
acquire, muscle, scissors
Silent D
Wednesday, sandwich, handsome, edge, bridge
Silent E
hate, name, like, breathe
Silent F
(no words)
Silent G
sign, champagne, gnaw, high, light, reign, though, through
Silent H
honest, ghost, heir, hour, what, whether
Silent I
business
Silent J
(no words)
Silent K
knead, knife, knight, knock, knot, know
Silent L
would, should, calf, half, salmon, talk, yolk
Silent M
mnemonic
Silent N
autumn, column, condemn, damn, hymn, solemn
Silent O
colonel
Silent P
corps, coup, pneumonia, psychology, receipt
Silent Q
(no words)
Silent R
(no words in American English. However, British English has some silent Rs)
Silent S
aisle, island, debris, apropos, bourgeois
Silent T
asthma, ballet, castle, gourmet, listen, rapport, ricochet, soften
Silent U
colleague, guess, guard, guide, guilt, guitar, tongue
Silent V
(no words)
Silent W
answer, sword, two, whole, wrist, write, who
Silent X
faux pas
Faux pas is a word of French origin. It means a “social mistake” or “inconsiderate action in a social situation.” Example: “Not inviting his mother-in-law to the party was a serious faux pas.”
Silent Y
(no words)
Silent Z
rendezvous
Rendezvous is another word of French origin, meaning “a meeting or appointment at a specified time and place.” Alternatively, it can mean “place of meeting.” Example: “Bob and I have planned a rendezvous this weekend so that our families can get to know each other.”
