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Silent Letters Rules in English: When B, K, W, G, H Are Silent

Published on April 6, 2026

English has many silent letters that confuse learners. The letter appears in the spelling but doesn't make a sound when you say the word.

The B Silent Letter Rule

B is silent after M at the end of words (climb, dumb, numb) and before T (debt, doubt).

The K Silent Letter Rule

K is silent before N at the beginning of a word. This is one of the most common silent letter patterns in English.

The W and G Silent Letter Rules

W is silent before R at the beginning (write, wrong, wrap). G is silent before N at the beginning (gnome, gnat, gnaw).

The H Silent Letter Rule

H is silent at the beginning of many words (honest, hour, honor) and in certain combinations.

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