Words that start with silent letters A-Z
Here is a detailed A–Z guide to English words that begin with a silent letter. Not every letter has common examples because silent initial letters are relatively rare in English.
A
There are no common English words that begin with a silent A.
Normally, A is pronounced:
- apple
- animal
- arrive
B (Silent B)
The B is usually silent before T or after M at the beginning of some words.
Examples:
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| bdellium | DEL-ee-um |
| bdelloid | DEL-oid |
| bdeism (rare) | DAY-iz-um |
These words come from Greek and are uncommon.
C (Silent C)
The C is silent before T in some words.
Examples:
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| czar/tsar (historically the C is omitted in pronunciation when spelled "czar") | ZAR |
| ctenoid | TEE-noid |
| ctenoid fish | TEE-noid |
More examples:
- ctenophore
- ctenidium
- ctene
These are scientific words.
D
There are no common English words with an initial silent D.
E
No common English words begin with a silent E.
F
No common English words begin with a silent F.
G (Silent G)
Very common.
The G is silent before N.
Examples:
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| gnome | NOHM |
| gnat | NAT |
| gnaw | NAW |
| gnash | NASH |
| gnarled | NARLD |
| gnocchi | NYOK-ee |
| gnu | NOO |
| gnostic | NOSS-tik |
| gnarl | NARL |
| gnashing | NASH-ing |
H (Silent H)
Very common.
Examples:
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| honest | ON-est |
| honor | ON-er |
| hour | OUR |
| hourly | OUR-lee |
| heir | AIR |
| heiress | AIR-ess |
| herb (American English) | ERB |
| honorary | ON-er-air-ee |
| honorific | on-er-IF-ik |
I
No common words with silent initial I.
J
No common words with silent initial J.
K (Silent K)
Very common.
The K is silent before N.
Examples:
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| know | NO |
| knew | NEW |
| knife | NIFE |
| knock | NOK |
| knot | NOT |
| kneel | NEEL |
| knit | NIT |
| knight | NITE |
| knob | NOB |
| knuckle | NUCK-ul |
| knead | NEED |
| knapsack | NAP-sack |
| knell | NELL |
| knoll | NOLE |
| knotty | NOT-ee |
L
No common silent initial L.
M
No common silent initial M.
N
No common silent initial N.
O
No common silent initial O.
P (Silent P)
Very common.
The P is silent before S, T, and N in many Greek-derived words.
Examples:
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| psychology | sy-KOL-uh-jee |
| psychologist | sy-KOL-uh-jist |
| psychic | SY-kik |
| psychiatry | sy-KY-uh-tree |
| pseudo | SOO-doh |
| pseudonym | SOO-duh-nim |
| psalm | SAHM |
| psoriasis | suh-RYE-uh-sis |
| pterodactyl | TER-uh-DAK-til |
| ptarmigan | TAR-mi-gən |
| pneumatic | noo-MAT-ik |
| pneumonia | noo-MOHN-yuh |
| pneumatics | noo-MAT-iks |
Q
No common silent initial Q.
R
No common silent initial R.
S
No common silent initial S.
T (Silent T)
Rare.
Examples:
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| tsar (the T is often silent in English) | ZAR |
| tzar | ZAR |
Most English speakers pronounce these as zar.
U
No common silent initial U.
V
No common silent initial V.
W (Silent W)
Very common.
The W is silent before R.
Examples:
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| write | RITE |
| wrong | RONG |
| wrap | RAP |
| wrist | RIST |
| wrinkle | RINK-ul |
| wrench | RENCH |
| wreck | REK |
| wreath | REETH |
| wren | REN |
| wrought | ROT |
| wring | RING |
| wrangle | RANG-gul |
| wrath | RATH |
| wrestler | RES-ler |
Also:
- who
- whole
- whom
- whose
- whoop (W is silent; pronounced "hooop")
X
No common English words with a silent initial X.
Y
No common English words with a silent initial Y.
Z
No common English words with a silent initial Z.
Summary of Common Silent Initial Letters
| Silent Letter | Common Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| G | gn- | gnat, gnome, gnaw, gnu |
| H | French-derived words | honest, honor, hour, heir |
| K | kn- | know, knife, knock, knight |
| P | ps-, pn-, pt- | psychology, pneumonia, pterodactyl |
| W | wr-, wh- (some words) | write, wrong, wrap, who |
Key takeaway
Only five initial silent letters are common in everyday English:
- G → gn- (gnome, gnat)
- H → honest, hour, heir
- K → kn- (know, knife)
- P → ps-, pn-, pt- (psychology, pneumonia, pterodactyl)
- W → wr- and a few wh- words (write, wrong, who)
The other letters (A, D, E, F, I, J, L, M, N, O, Q, R, S, U, V, X, Y, Z) do not have common English words where the first letter is consistently silent, though a few rare scientific or borrowed words (such as bdellium or ctenophore) are exceptions.