Speaking Tips - Silent letters

ScottsEnglish

IELTS, TOEFL and TOEIC Speaking and Silent Letters

Many words in English have letters that are not pronounced. These letters are called "silent letters" and must never be pronounced. 

So a word like "know" sounds the same as "no", and not "k-no".

knee, know, knew known - the "k" is not pronounced
wrong, write, wrote, written, wrist - the  "w" is not pronounced
sword  - the "w" is not pronounced
receipt - the "p" is not pronounced
biscuit  - say "bis kit", do not pronounce the "u"
scissors  - do not pronounce the "c"
plumber, debt, climb, thumb  - the "b" is silent in each word
honest, hour - the "h" is not pronounced
rhyme, thyme - these are pronounced without the "h", "rime" and "time"
answer - the "w" is not pronounced
Christmas - it is pronounced "krismas"
Wednesday - it is pronounced "wensday"

Good pronunciation makes your speaking clearer!