If you’ve ever wondered why English words have letters that you don’t pronounce, you’re not alone! Silent letters can be frustrating, but they actually have historical reasons. Let’s explore some of the most confusing ones and how to remember them!

1. The Silent «K» – Knock, Know, Knife

Why do we write «knife» but say «nife»? The answer comes from Old English. Centuries ago, people actually pronounced the “K” (knight was kuh-night!). Over time, pronunciation changed, but the spelling remained the same.

✅ I know the answer. (Sé la respuesta.)
✅ He knocked on the door. (Llamó a la puerta.)

👉 Rule: If «K» is before an «N» at the beginning of a word, it’s never pronounced!

2. The Silent «B» – Thumb, Lamb, Climb

Originally, the «B» in these words was pronounced, but people found it easier to say without the “B”, so it disappeared in speech but not in writing.

✅ I hurt my thumb. (Me lastimé el pulgar.)
✅ She climbed the mountain. (Subió la montaña.)

👉 Rule: The «B» is silent when it comes after «M» at the end of a word.

3. The Silent «G» – Sign, Foreign, Design

The letter «G» is often quiet when it appears before an «N» in words with Latin origins.

✅ I need to sign the document. (Necesito firmar el documento.)
✅ English has many foreign words. (El inglés tiene muchas palabras extranjeras.)

👉 Tip: If a word with a silent «G» has a related word (like sign → signature), the «G» is usually pronounced in the related form!

4. The Silent «H» – Honest, Hour, Ghost

In many English words, «H» is completely silent, often because of French influence.

✅ It took an hour to finish. (Tomó una hora terminar.)
✅ She is an honest person. (Ella es una persona honesta.)

👉 Rule: «H» is usually silent when it follows a W (who, what, when) or is at the beginning of words from French (honest, honour).

5. The Silent «P» – Psychology, Pneumonia

The «P» is unspoken in words that come from Greek, especially before «S» or «N».

✅ She is studying psychology. (Está estudiando psicología.)
✅ He had pneumonia last winter. (Tuvo neumonía el invierno pasado.)

👉 Tip: If «P» is before «S» or «N» in a scientific word, it’s usually silent!

How to Remember Silent Letters?

✔ Listen to native speakers to hear correct pronunciation.
✔ Look for patterns (like “KN” = silent K).
✔ Use spelling tricks (e.g., «a silent B follows M»).

Silent letters make English challenging, but learning these rules will help! Do you know any other words with silent letters?

Written by Aimee Wilkinson, Principal at The Harrogate International Academy