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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
FREE LISTENING WORKSHEET · APG

20 English words with silent letters

Listen, notice one detail, and say the word in a phrase.

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Videos and full notes: https://ipronounce.io/guides/silent-letters

Name: ________________________　 Date: __________________

A five-word listening round

  1. Choose five words below. Open each linked word and play its APG video.
  2. Write one sound observation: the strongest syllable, a silent letter, a consonant connection, or a variant you hear.
  3. Say the original practice phrase, then write and say your own sentence.
  4. Read the word’s listening note and compare it with your observation. Repeat any word you want to revisit.
Your listening record — choose five, then return for another round
Word & videoPractice phraseWhat I hear / my sentence
knowI know the answer.
wrongThe wrong direction.
answerAn answer to the question.
swordA sword in the museum.
castleA castle on the hill.
whistleBlow the whistle.
subtleA subtle difference.
doubtThere is no doubt.
thumbA thumb on the page.
combUse a comb.
climbClimb the stairs.
autumnAn autumn afternoon.
psychologyAn introduction to psychology.
pneumoniaA discussion of pneumonia.
mnemonicA useful mnemonic.
hymnSing a hymn.
plumberCall the plumber.
aisleAn aisle seat.
debrisDebris on the road.
heirThe heir to the estate.

Test your pronunciation knowledge

Choose one answer for each question. The answer key includes explanations and source links.

  1. What happens to b and t in “doubt”?

    1. Silent b, spoken final t
    2. Spoken b, silent final t
    3. Both b and t are silent

  2. Which consonant starts “mnemonic”?

    1. /m/
    2. /p/
    3. /n/

  3. Which consonant is heard at the end of “hymn”?

    1. /n/
    2. /m/
    3. /b/

  4. Which written letter is silent in the American pronunciation of “sword”?

    1. The w
    2. The d
    3. The s
Show the answer key

Open this section before printing to include the answers.

  1. A. Silent b, spoken final t “Doubt” is /daʊt/. It ends in t, and the written b adds no sound.

    Source: Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

  2. C. /n/ The first written m in “mnemonic” is silent. A later m begins the stressed syllable in /nəˈmɑnɪk/.

    Source: Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. B. /m/ “Hymn” is /hɪm/. The final sound is m, and the written n is silent.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  4. A. The w The w in “sword” is silent. The word starts with s and retains the American r and final d.

    Source: Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Sources & reuse

The pronunciation notes are based on the dictionary sources linked from each word page. Practice phrases and exercises are original APG learning material, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Credit American Pronunciation Guide and keep the source links when adapting this worksheet. Videos and reference quotations retain their own terms.

Full sources & credits →