Learning English can be hard, especially with tricky pronunciation. Some letters in English words are not pronounced at all. These letters are called “silent letters.” They can be confusing because they don’t follow simple rules. In this article, we will look at three common silent letters: B, H, and L. We’ll see what they are, why they are silent, and give lots of examples to help you understand.

Silent B

The letter B is often silent in some English words. This means you don’t say the B sound even though it is written in the word. Here are some words where B is silent:

1. Thumb
   In the word “thumb,” the B is silent. You say “thum,” not “thub.”
2. Comb
   When you use a comb for your hair, you say “comb” like “cohm,” not “comb” with a B sound.
3. Womb
   The word “womb” (a part of the body where a baby grows) also has a silent B. You say “wohm,” not “womb.”
4. Dumb
   In “dumb,” the B is silent. You say “dum,” not “dumb.”
5. Debt
   The B in “debt” is not spoken. You say “det,” not “debt.”
6. Subtle
   In “subtle,” the B is silent. You say “suttle,” not “subbtle.”
7. Doubt
   The B is silent in “doubt.” You say “dout,” not “doubt.”
8. Climb
   The B in “climb” is silent. You say “clim,” not “climb.”

The B is usually silent when it comes after M or before T. Remembering this can help you with many words.

Silent H

The letter H can be silent in some words. This means you don’t say the H sound, even though it’s written. Here are some words where H is silent:

1. Hour
   In the word “hour,” the H is silent. You say “our,” not “how-er.”
2. Honest
   When you say “honest,” the H is silent. You say “onest,” not “honest.”
3. Ghost
   The word “ghost” has a silent H. You say “gost,” not “ghost.”
4. Rhythm
   In “rhythm,” the H is silent. You say “rythm,” not “rhy-thm.”
5. Heir
   The word “heir” (a person who inherits something) also has a silent H. You say “air,” not “heir.”
6. Aisle
   In “aisle,” the H is silent. You say “aisle,” not “aisle.”
7. Champagne
   The H is silent in “champagne.” You say “sham-payn,” not “champ-hayn.”
8. Honorable
   The H in “honorable” is silent. You say “onorable,” not “honorable.”

The H is often silent at the beginning of words, especially when it is followed by a vowel. Knowing this can help you with many words.

Silent L

The letter L is silent in some words. This means you don’t say the L sound, even though it is in the word. Here are some words where L is silent:

1. Salmon
   In the word “salmon,” the L is silent. You say “sammon,” not “salmon.”
2. Calm
   When you say “calm,” the L is silent. You say “cam,” not “calm.”
3. Walk
   The L in “walk” is silent. You say “wawk,” not “walk.”
4. Talk
   The L is also silent in “talk.” You say “tawk,” not “talk.”
5. Half
   In “half,” the L is silent. You say “haf,” not “half.”
6. Should
   In “should,” the L is silent. You say “shood,” not “should.”
7. Balm
   The L is silent in “balm.” You say “bam,” not “balm.”
8. Yield
   The L in “yield” is silent. You say “yeed,” not “yield.”

The L is often silent when it comes after the letters A, O, or I. Knowing this can help you with many common words.

Why Are These Letters Silent?

Silent letters in English can be confusing because they don’t follow simple rules. This is because English has many words from other languages like Latin, French, and Germanic languages. A long time ago, the way words were pronounced changed, but the spelling stayed the same. For example, “debt” comes from Latin, where the B was pronounced. As English changed, the B sound went away, but the spelling stayed the same.

Also, English has changed a lot over time. Some letters used to be pronounced but are not anymore. For example, “womb” used to be pronounced with the B sound. As people started saying it differently, the B sound was dropped, but the spelling didn’t change.

Challenges for Non-Native Speakers

People who speak other languages might find English pronunciation harder because of its silent letters. For example, Spanish and Italian speakers may find it difficult because their languages usually pronounce every letter. In Spanish, each letter has a clear sound, so silent letters in English can be confusing. Arabic and Russian speakers might also find English tricky because their languages have different pronunciation rules and fewer silent letters. These languages often have more regular rules for pronunciation. With practice, though, they can get better at English pronunciation.

Using ELSA for Pronunciation Improvement

A great tool to help with pronunciation is ELSA Speak. ELSA is an app that helps you improve your English pronunciation. It listens to how you say words and gives you feedback. This helps you correct mistakes and practice until you get it right.

With ELSA, you can work on specific sounds and words, including those with silent letters. The app gives you practice exercises that fit your needs. This helps you learn more effectively and makes it easier.

Using ELSA can help you feel more confident when speaking English. It’s like having a personal tutor who is always available, which can be very helpful. If you want to get better at English pronunciation and master tricky words, ELSA is a great tool to try.

By learning about silent B, H, and L, and using tools like ELSA for extra help, you can make learning English easier. Keep practicing, and you’ll get better at English pronunciation in no time.

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