What Letters Can Be Silent?

Silent letters include b, c, e, h, k, n, p, s, u, and w, while silent letter combinations include 'gh'. Each one is associated with its own rules and exceptions.

Which letters can be silent in English?

In English pronunciation, a silent letter—a term used informally—is a letter or letter combination of the alphabet that is usually not pronounced in a word. Examples include the b in subtle, the c in scissors, the g in design, the t in listen, and the gh in thought. Many words contain silent letters.

Can every letter be silent in English?

But, as a recent article in Reader's Digest points out, nearly every letter in the English language is silent sometimes. There is only one letter in the language that is never silent. Can you guess what it is? The letter is V!