Page 30 - English 8

English for Tourism & Hospitality (108) by Prof. Adel AlSheikh 2020/2021

Silent Letters

Here is a list of common letter combinations with silent letters.
This list contains most of the silent letters that make English a
difficult language.

Silent B
B is not pronounced when following M or T at the end of a word.

Ex. Climb, Crumb, Dumb, Comb, Thumb, Lamb, Doubt,
Limb, Plumber ,Bomb

Silent C
Many words are spelled with a silent C following S: for example
abscess, descend (with descent); omniscient; words ending in -
esce, -escent, or -escence, such as acquiesce, effervescent,
convalescent.

A silent C may also occur before k or q: examples include
acknowledge; acquainted; acquire. C is also not pronounced in
the ending "scle" like Muscle.

Silent D
D is not pronounced in the following common words: Ex.
Handkerchief, Sandwich, Wednesday, Handsome,

Silent G

G is not often pronounced when followed by an N. Ex.

Champagne, Foreign, Sign, Feign, Resign, Gnarl, Design

Foreigner, Gnome

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