Silent b, p, and l: what to pronounce
Hear the consonants that remain in debt, receipt, and yolk, and practice moving through each word smoothly.
Practice goal: Leave out the silent letter while retaining the neighboring sounds.
Mark what you actually hear
Before reading a note, play its video and say the word once. Then look at the IPA. Debt ends in /t/, receipt also ends in /t/, and yolk ends in /k/. Finding the last sound is often more useful than concentrating only on the silent letter.
Join the remaining sounds
In subtle, the b disappears but the t remains. In psychology, the word begins directly with s. Practice each transition slowly, then say the complete word at a comfortable pace. Avoid adding a vowel where a written consonant has been omitted.
Keep the rule local
The silent letters in these examples do not mean that every b, p, or l in a similar-looking word is silent. Use a dictionary and the APG video to check a new spelling before extending the pattern.
Your listening list
12 wordsChoose a word to hear it in an APG video.
Silent b
Notice the spoken t in debt, doubt, and subtle. Thumb instead ends with m.
debt
/dɛt/
Leave the b silent.
One syllable: det. The b is silent; compare doubt, which also has a silent b.
Watch debt →doubt
/daʊt/
Leave the b silent and keep the final t.
One syllable, with the vowel in now followed by t. The b is silent.
Watch doubt →subtle
/ˈsʌtəl/
The b is silent; the t remains.
Stress the first syllable, with the vowel in cup. The b is silent, but the t is pronounced.
Watch subtle →thumb
/θʌm/
End with m rather than b.
Use the th in thin. Finish with m and leave the b silent.
Watch thumb →
Silent p
The p is silent at different positions in these words: the beginning of psychology and pneumonia, the middle of receipt, and the end of coup.
receipt
/ɹɪˈsit/
The p is silent.
Stress SEET. The p is silent, and the first syllable is lighter.
Watch receipt →psychology
/saɪˈkɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/
The initial p is silent.
The p is silent and ch sounds like k. Stress the second syllable; the ending includes the j sound in judge.
Watch psychology →pneumonia
/nuˈmoʊniə/
Start with n rather than p.
The p is silent. Stress MOH, keeping the surrounding vowels lighter.
Watch pneumonia →coup
/ku/
The final “p” is silent.
Use one syllable, starting with k and ending with the vowel in blue. Do not release a final p or turn the written ou into two separate vowel sounds.
Watch coup →
Silent l
Move straight from the vowel to the following consonant. Practice yolk and folk with an oh vowel followed directly by k, leaving out the l sound.
calf
/kæf/
The l is silent.
Use the vowel in cat, then move straight to f. Keep the word to one syllable.
Watch calf →walk
/wɔk/
Leave out the written “l.”
Keep the word to one syllable and move from the vowel directly to k. The dictionary lists two vowel choices here, but neither includes a separate l sound.
Watch walk →folk
/foʊk/
Move from the long “o” directly to “k.”
Use one syllable and the vowel heard in go. Use no l sound between that vowel and k, even though the spelling includes the letter.
Watch folk →
Test these pronunciations
Try 8 questions from this guide. Each answer includes an APG video, dictionary reference, and explanation.
Try this guide’s quiz →Sources & classroom use
Each listening tip follows the IPA shown beside its word. Other dictionary pronunciations appear on the word page; individual speakers may vary.
Practice phrases were written for these exercises; quoted book passages remain in the separate, sourced book sections. These guides and practice notes are available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Credit American Pronunciation Guide and retain the linked dictionary attributions. Videos and other reference material keep their own terms.
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