Silent U words
After G or Q, a U is often written purely to keep the G hard before E or I: without it, guess would be read as 'jess'. In these words the U carries no sound of its own. Listen for the hard G going straight into the following vowel.
Accent
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The words
More lists like this
Silent K words
Words where K is written but never spoken. Hear all ten silent-K words said aloud in your accent.
Silent B words
Climb, thumb, debt, doubt: words with a B you never say. Listen and copy the correct pronunciation.
Silent L words
Walk, calm, half, should: the L is written but not spoken. Practise these common silent-L words.
Silent T words
Castle, listen, often, ballet: words where the T stays silent. Hear each one spoken clearly.
Silent H words
Hour, honest, ghost, rhythm: an H on the page that never reaches your mouth. Practise all fifteen.
Silent W words
Write, wrong, sword, answer: the W is invisible in speech. Hear these silent-W words pronounced.
Keep practising
Browse every practice list, hear two accents back to back on Compare, or test your ear with the listening quiz.