English Pronunciation: Silent Letters

Level A2 · Lesson 1

Language Focus: Silent Letters

A silent letter is a letter that we write but do not pronounce. English has many words like this, and they often follow patterns you can learn.

Silent LetterPatternExamples
Kkn- at the start of a wordknife, know, knee
B-mb or -bt at the end of a wordcomb, climb, doubt
Wwr- at the start of a word (or before some consonants)write, wrong, answer
Lbefore k, f, m, or in some modal verbswalk, half, calm, would
Tip: Silent letters are about spelling history, not logic — the best way to learn them is to listen to each word and notice which letter disappears.

Listen and Practise

Click the speaker to listen to each word. Then click the letter that is silent.

Exercise 1: True or False

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Exercise 3: Matching

Click the speaker to listen to each word. Then click the word, and click the box with its silent letter.

Exercise 4: Word Sort

Drag each word into the box for its silent letter: K, B, W, or L.

Silent K

Silent B

Silent W

Silent L

Exercise 5: Gap Fill

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