There are a lot of silent letters in English! Here’s some pronunciation practice with a few examples:
Do NOT pronounce the B in debt, doubt, or dumb:
I doubt anyone would be dumb enough to forget about their credit card debt.
Do NOT pronounce the CH in yacht or the GH in bought or straight:
After they retired, my parents bought a yacht straight away.
Do NOT pronounce the D in Wednesday or handsome:
I met a handsome guy on Wednesday.
Do NOT pronounce the G in foreign, campaign, or cologne:
Our marketing campaign is advertising foreign cologne.
Do NOT pronounce the H in honest, hour, or ghost:
I spent an hour alone in the house, and I honestly saw a ghost.
Do NOT pronounce the K in know, knee, or knife:
I didn’t know that I’d cut my knee with a knife.
Do NOT pronounce the L in half, folks, or could:
I talked to some folks who could pay half the bill.
Do NOT pronounce the P in receipt or psychology:
I got a receipt from my psychologist.
Do NOT pronounce the T in whistle, buffet, or bouquet:
We whistled when we saw the buffet and the bouquet of flowers.
Do NOT pronounce the TH in asthma or the T in ballet or wrestle:
Her asthma prevented her from doing ballet or wrestling.
Do NOT pronounce the W in answer, sword, or towards:
He didn’t answer my question, but instead pointed his sword towards the door.
