A pronunciation essential – Silent letters 

Examples: lamb, climbing, plumber, limb, crumb, dumb, comb, bomb, thumb, climb, tomb, debt, doubt, debtor, doubtful, subtle, subtleness

Silent H

• Examples: what, when, where, whether, why, hour, honest, honour, heir, ghost, honest, while, white, rhythm

Silent K

• Examples: Knob, Knot, Knickers, knuckle, knack, knight, knife, knee, know, knock, knowledge, knead

Silent L

• Examples: calm, half, talk, walk, would, should, could, calf, salmon, yolk, chalk, folk, balm

Silent P

• Examples: Psychiatrist, pneumonia, pneumatic, psychotherapy, psychotic, psychologist, pseudonym, Pterodactyl

Silent S

• Examples: Island, isle, aisle, islet

Silent T

• Examples: fasten, witch, castle, christmas, mortgage, listen, often, whistle, thistle, bustle, hasten, soften, rapport, gourmet, ballet, butcher

Silent U

• Examples: biscuit, league, guide, circuit, guess, guidance, guitar, guest, guild, guard

Silent W

• Examples: wrangle, wriggle, wrap, write, wrong, wring, wreck, wrestle, wrap, wrist, who, whose, whom, whole, whoever, answer, sword, two

  Tips to improve 1. You should listen and read at the same time. Use the TV with subtitles, audio books or even study books with the dialogue in paper form. This way you will get used to hearing how words are pronounced as well a written. 2. Read out load and get others to listen and correct you. 3. Use frequency phrases. A great way is to practice and review target vocabulary. You should apply vocabulary that you have difficulty with to contexts that you understand and can remember.  ]]>