---
title: "Silent Letters in Words"
description: "Spell words containing silent consonants, recognise common silent-letter patterns, and use checked word families or word histories as spelling clues"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/silent-letters-in-words-mt_XK7NYt61cO
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/silent-letters-in-words-mt_XK7NYt61cO.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Silent Letters in Words

Spell words containing silent consonants, recognise common silent-letter patterns, and use checked word families or word histories as spelling clues

Subject: English · Area: Spelling & Word Study · Ages 9 to 10
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/silent-letters-in-words-mt_XK7NYt61cO

## Ready when they can

- Identify and spell words with silent initial consonants, including knight, know, write, wrap, gnaw and psalm, using their common spelling patterns
- Spell words with silent letters inside the word or at its end: doubt (b), island (s), muscle (c) and solemn (n), using word origins as memory clues where helpful
- Use word families and etymology to remember silent letters, e.g. sign is related to signal where the g is pronounced

## Lesson: Silent Letters in Words

You have used word origins as spelling clues. A silent letter is written but has no sound of its own in a word. The starting k is silent in know, knife and knight. The starting w is silent in write and wrap. Gnaw starts with a silent g, and psalm starts with a silent p. Say the word, then check its spelling.

*(drawing: The starting k in knight is silent. The letters gh are silent too.)*

Silent letters have different histories. Some mark older sounds. Others were added to show word origins. Doubt is linked to the Latin word dubitare. The b written in dubitare is a memory clue for the silent b in doubt. You do not need to pronounce the Latin word to use this clue.

A silent letter can be inside a word or at its end. Island has a silent s. Muscle has a silent c after s; a muscle helps your body move. Solemn has a silent n at the end. To check a spelling, compare it letter by letter with your word list or dictionary. Keep the silent letters when you correct it.

*(drawing: A silent letter can be inside a word or at its end.)*

A related word can help you remember a silent letter. Sign and signal belong to the same word family. The g is silent in sign, but you can hear it in signal. Say both words and compare their spellings. The spoken g in signal reminds you to keep g when you write sign.

**Recap.** Silent letters do not make a sound, but they still belong in the spelling, so always write them.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Spellings from Greek, French and Latin](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spellings-from-greek-french-and-latin-mt_y8sicbhMci)

## Opens up

- [Applying Spelling Rules to Complex Words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/applying-spelling-rules-to-complex-words-mt_4PA9IrxtCQ)