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Silent N words

When a word ends in -MN, the N is silent and only the M is spoken, so autumn rhymes with 'bottom'. The N returns as soon as a suffix follows and the letter starts a new syllable: column becomes columnist, damn becomes damnation. Listen for the clean M closing each word.


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The words

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Wednesday, handkerchief, handsome: the D drops out in normal speech. Hear how they really sound.
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Scissors, muscle, science: the C is written but silent. Practise these tricky SC and CK spellings.
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Island, aisle, debris, Illinois: words hiding a silent S. Hear each one said the right way.
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Guess, guitar, tongue, biscuit: a U that only exists to protect the G. Practise these spellings.
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A silent final E that changes the vowel before it: hat to hate, kit to kite. Hear the difference.
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Light, laugh, ghost, high: GH is silent, F, or hard G. Hear which each word takes.
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Keep practising

Browse every practice list or the word index, hear two accents back to back on Compare, or test your ear with the listening quiz.

To read the rules behind these words, see the pronunciation guides — including silent letters, word stress and American vs British. Or hear each accent on its own page: American, British, Australian.