# Are there any unsilencable English letters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090 "2005-03-11T21:22:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hiebram](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5fc32e/32.png) [@hiebram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hiebram)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/1 "2005-03-11T21:22:07Z")
I’m just wondering if there are any letters for which we have no examples of silent usage. There are a couple of ground rules to be put forth: (1) letter combinations: does “treat” contain a silent “a?” Does “catalogue” contain both a silent “u” and a silent “e,” or a silent “ue”? (2) incorporated foreign words: could we count a word that was imported directly from another language? (3) double letters: should “letters” count as having one silent “t?” I leave these questions and any others open to discussion, but I will suggest that the tentative answers be (1) no, and “ue” (2) yes (3) no. It seems to me that combining letters into one sound does not allow for one of them to claim silence. The only trouble is distinguishing on a practical basis between how the e and the a in “treat” combine to form a long e sound (which e can do on its own), but the e and the c in “silence” are not considered to have combined, especially since the e in the second syllable remains short. If anyone else wants to do silent letter combinations, go ahead. If a word is in standard English usage, I consider it English, even if you normally have to write it in italics. Okay, the beginner list: b - comb c - disciple e- kite g - mignon (?) k - knife l - talk m - mnemonic p- pneumonia s - isle t - hustle w - two x - prix I know there’s more, but now that I’m trying to think of them, I can’t. As soon as I’m away from the computer, they’ll all come flooding back to me. Hiebram ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/2 "2005-03-11T21:35:29Z")
a - b - comb c - disciple d - e- kite _f - halfpenny_ g - mignon (?) or _flight_ _h - arguably “why”_ i - j - k - knife l - talk _(disputable…)_ m - mnemonic n - o - p- pneumonia q - _r - Worchestershire_ (along with a lot of other letters) s - isle t - hustle u - v - w - two x - prix y - z - (my additions in italics) ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/3 "2005-03-11T21:42:07Z")
h - honor l - would ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/4 "2005-03-11T21:44:04Z")
As an example for ‘z’, there’s a mineral called szaibelyite. It’s pronounced “sable-lite.” ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/5 "2005-03-11T21:45:00Z")
d - bridge ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/6 "2005-03-11T21:50:06Z")
b – another example is “debt” c – I think I pronopunce both the “s” and “c” in “disciple” (as a double “ess” sound). A clearer example is “science” (the first “c”, of course) u – “cough”: and the g and h go weird in that too! ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Ruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Blue\_Ruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Ruin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/7 "2005-03-11T22:03:21Z")
> [@Moe](#): > > d - bridge I pronounce the D in bridge. If I say ‘brij’ it sounds different. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/8 "2005-03-11T22:39:39Z")
If we’re going to allow Worchestershire, I’ll offer d, n, o, s - Cholmondesley Also note that Featherstonehaugh is so distant from “fanshaw” that I can’t figure out what to call “silent” in there. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/9 "2005-03-11T22:40:26Z")
This just got done in [Cafe Society](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=304959). Odd coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/10 "2005-03-11T22:53:12Z")
A lot of those are transformed letters rather than silent letters. Quay does not sound like uay or ay. Jalepino doesn’t have a silent J just a J pronoynced h. ---
**Author:** ![hyjyljyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@hyjyljyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyjyljyj)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/11 "2005-03-11T23:34:55Z")
Damn, I can’t think of one with a silent n. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/12 "2005-03-11T23:50:13Z")
a - tread b - comb c - sick d - ledger e- kite f - halfpenny g - drought h - honor i - sundries j - k - knife l - talk m - mnemonic n - o - p- pneumonia q - r - s - isle t - hustle u - court v - w - two x - prix y - z - ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/13 "2005-03-11T23:59:08Z")
> [@hyjyljyj](#): > > Damn, I can’t think of one with a silent n. :dubious: Autumn ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/14 "2005-03-12T00:05:48Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Autumn May I? Whhhoooooshhh c.f. Originally Posted by **hyjyljyj** damn , I can’t think of one with a silent n. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/15 "2005-03-12T00:23:07Z")
Why is ‘z’ still listed as vacant? Szaibelyite is a legitimate word. It’s in Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged (3rd Edition). ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/16 "2005-03-12T00:26:18Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > damn , I can’t think of one with a silent n. :smack: grrrrrrrr. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/17 "2005-03-12T00:32:18Z")
I want to ask for a change on C. Surely there are a lot of “sc” combinations pronounced as a single /s/ sound. But “disciple” to my ear has a double S sound in it: dihs-SIGH-pull. _Scientific_ analysis would quickly turn up another example, I think. ---
**Author:** ![hyjyljyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@hyjyljyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyjyljyj)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/18 "2005-03-12T02:25:47Z")
Didn’t think anyone would have to limn _that_ one. Aim lower, Sheriff, they’re ridin’ Shetlands…eh Bip? 😉 This bit from [askoxford.com](http://askoxford.com) is somewhat arbitrary and questionable: \*\*C. Many words are spelled with a silent c following s: for example abscess, descend (with descent); omniscient; words ending in -esce, -escent, or -escence, such as acquiesce, effervescent, convalescent. A silent c may also occur before k or q: examples include acknowledge; acquainted; acquire. D. Silent d is easy to omit before j, as in adjourn; adjunct; adjudicate; adjust. H. Silent h is particularly common after r - as in diarrhoea (made harder by the double r and the diphthong oe); haemorrhage (a double r adds to the difficulty again); rhythm. C is another letter likely to be followed by h- in saccharine, for example - and remember the h in silhouette. While thinking about silent letters, remember the t in mortgage and the b in debt and subtle. Watch out as well for the i in parliament. \*\* Good points about the T, B, and H. And I was thinking of the second I in poinsettia, but the parliament example works. However… As to C: How is it ascertained that it is the C that is silent in these words and not the S? They use descent as an example of silent C, but that’s obviously not a decent example. Hmmmm. Not being omniscient, the author may be forgiven for not knowing that many English speakers in America pronounce that one using an -sh- sound, thus giving life to the C. And it would seem a person of any knowledge would have to acknowledge that the K is the silent letter, in both the root word and the one with the prefix. As to D: It was adjudicated above that it is in fact pronounced when followed by J. I’ve tried saying just the J. I’ve tried to just adjust the tongue a little bit. I don’t know, but it feels to my tongue as though I’m just adding an a- in front. The djury’s still out. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/19 "2005-03-12T02:33:43Z")
O – opossum. [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) says you can pronouce the “o” or not. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090/20 "2005-03-12T02:46:02Z")
a - tread b - comb c – sick/science/cnidaria d - ledger e- kite f - halfpenny g - drought h - honor i - sundries j - k - knife l - talk m - mnemonic n – damn o - leopard p- pneumonia q - Farles Wickens r – February (the first R is silent in many if not most dialects) s - isle t - hustle u - court v - w - two x - prix y – If we can use kite for a silent e we can use bay for a silent y. z - chez [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-unsilencable-english-letters/294090.md?page=2)