Silent Letters: When NOT to pronounce B, D, and L in English

You know that English has silent letters, but how do you know when certain letters are silent? In this video, you'll learn the rules for when NOT to pronounce the letters B, D, and L in English words. I'll also show you lots of example words that you can practice pronouncing correctly. I've chosen the most common words with these silent letters, so that even if you don't remember the rules, you'll still know how to pronounce these common words correctly. This is also a great chance for you to improve your spelling.
After the lesson, take the quiz at www.engvid.com/silent-letters-... You can also watch many other pronunciation lessons on our site!
TRANSCRIPT
Hi, there. My name is Emma, and in today's video, I am going to teach you about silent sounds. So I'm going to teach you about "b", "d", and "l" in words where we don't pronounce them. So, this is a pronunciation video, as well as a spelling video. Okay? So, if you have trouble with pronunciation and spelling, this video is for you.
So, I'm going to first explain... Actually, let's first look at a couple words. I have the word, here: "climb", "Wednesday", and "walk". These words have something that's the same in all of them. Okay? They have multiple things that's the same in all of them, but I want you to listen for the pronunciation. "Climb". Is there something in here we don't pronounce? "Climb". If you said: "'b'. We do not pronounce the 'b'", you are correct. What about "Wednesday"? "Wednesday". Am I pronouncing the "d" in this? "Wednesday". No. I do not pronounce the "d". Okay? And what about "walk"? "Walk". Is there something I'm not pronouncing in this word? "Walk". Do I pronounce every letter? No. "Walk". Okay, so the "l"... If you said: "The 'l'", I'm not pronouncing the "l", you're correct. So, in this video we're going to look at a bunch of words, and we're going to learn some rules with their pronunciation when we don't pronounce these sounds or these letters. Okay?
So let's get started with words like "climb", the silent "b". Okay? So, silent "b" means sometimes in a word we do not pronounce a "b". When is this true? Well, the first rule with the silent "b" is we don't pronounce "b" when there's an "m" before it. Okay? So you notice "b"... "mb". If you see an "m" and a "b" right after it, the "b" becomes silent. So, we don't ever say: "Clim-b", no, no, no. We say: "Clime". For spelling, we have the "b", but for pronunciation, we don't.
So, let's look at some other words. "Dumb". Okay? Do you hear a "b" sound in there? "Dumb". No. So, again, you'll notice there's an "m" and a "b", we see the "m", so we know no pronunciation of the "b" sound. For those of you who don't know the word "dumb", it means the same thing as stupid. You know, "That man is very dumb", "That man is very stupid", they have the same meaning. Okay, we have another word, here: "comb". Okay? So, "comb" is like you comb your hair in the morning. Do you hear the "b" sound? "Comb". No, there's no "b" sound, because again, we have this "m", so that means no "b" pronunciation. Okay.
You see this? This is a "thumb". We have our fingers and our thumb. Now, what do you notice in the spelling of this? You're going to notice a pattern, here. We have "m", so do we pronounce the "b"? No, we do not pronounce the "b". So, we don't say: "Thum-b". No. We say: "Thum". Okay, "bomb". If you think about a bomb, an explosion. Right? "Bomb". Again, same rule, if you have an "m", you do not pronounce the "b". So we don't say: "Bom-b", no. We say: "Bom", and we get rid of this. Okay, the last word we'll look at for "mb" pronunciation: "limb". So, your limbs are your arms and your legs. Okay? So, arms and legs are the same thing as your limbs. Now, do we pronounce the "b", here? If you said: "No", you are correct, because as you can see, there's an "m", so we don't pronounce the "b".
Okay, so there's another rule when it comes to "b" pronunciation. Okay. I want you to now look over here. "b" and "t". This word: "debt". Do you hear the "b" in the pronunciation? "Debt". You shouldn't hear the "b". I did not pronounce the "b", because when you have "b" and right after "t", usually you don't pronounce the "b". There are always exceptions to this rule, but in general, if you see "b" and "t", usually you do not pronounce the "b". So, "debt". I've heard many students say: "De-bt", and they get really tongue twisted. We don't... Don't worry about that, because you don't have to pronounce the "b".

[@josebenoite4565]

Emma, is a different professional teacher that I love to fallow all of her lessons. I particularly admire by her simplicity, clarity that make things even more easier to understand.

[@athulabar1]

Dear teacher Emma, I’ve been watching your video clips in here for a number of years with eagerness; I’m happy to say that most of them are really useful and help me in many ways to improve my language skills. I’m a nonnative English speaker, but my country was a British colony, so it is not difficult to find materials in relation to the English language. In the practical context, people in my country speak our local languages, but people have got a sort of capability to manage English to some extent depending on the reality. The way you stick to in teaching the English language with the help of your video clips is truly effective or successful. As a nonnative English speaker, I in general face a problem in pronouncing English words because my mother tongue is different, so I speak English in my own way. On the other hand, I know that it is a natural issue. However, I always do my best to follow right pronunciation in this case, but at times, I decline or fail. Anyway, your job as an online English teacher is greatly appreciated! Good Luck!

[@user-gy7hh7hq7v]

Hi Bimal, where are you from? I think you're going to be a great fluent English speaker. your comment is really humble.

[@aapkiawaaz6414]

Bimal Rathnagoda You are a best speaker

[@user-ls1mc8jf5f]

Bitch

[@jenniferhenry7669]

@Seán Jared q

[@ciaranlittle38]

As a native English speaker, your English is quite good.

[@gonzachambi3937]

Sincerely speaking it's just like a nightmare learning which words are silent in some words. In some way looks like there are lots, tons of this ones. Great video, so practical.

[@nawabnazeerabbas3826]

Oo ooiooou

[@marcomacario2711]

You are a great teacher and beautiful too. I'm learning a lot with your english class.

[@kikujirofromkyoto]

Thank you so much Emma! I've learnt English pretty much on the spot and although I have worked as an English interpreter/translator as well as an English teacher for years, I'm afraid to say I didn't know half the things you said.. well done.

[@derck_man]

you are doing a very great job, i'm very proud, keep on teaching us as you are doing, it's very helpful,thank you very much, i would like to thank you in person.

[@EWARO87]

I have been learning and practicing english all my life and didn't know about the right pronunciation of many of these words...thank you so much for this video!

[@vivictor7220]

i fell in love with your crystally clear pronunciation and you are the first online teacher whom i choose to subscribe to your channel

[@ludwingguate]

Thanks Emma for this lesson, it's very useful and ... please make more videos about pronunciation! You're a great teacher!!

[@chaiswa1]

Hi Emma you have done an excellent educative video. Congratulations. You also mentioned there are some exceptions e.g. cold, for the rule of "Silent L if it is placed before a, o, u" . Can you please elaborate with examples in another video.

[@albertmo4865]

How interesting! I have been speaking English for over 30 years; I always thought there is a "L" sound in "walk". Thank you soooo much! Albert

[@mahmutelcigil3144]

I was once confused about how to pronounce these words, and I was ashamed to be wrong. Now I can say these words boldly and shamelessly. Thank you very much.

[@Papapapapa78]

Make more videos about pronunciation pleasee! It helps so much to us, thank you

[@MsSalma-xe9rr]

Videos are plural so you must say: They help; not it helps

[@jasonbolster3259]

You are both right. Videos are plural so, yes, Ebithal Aljabry, you say "they" if you mean "the videos help." But (this is complicated) maybe Hambrumendim Fayer meant "the act of making videos helps." That is only one act so "it helps" could also be right. Understand?

[@jasonbolster3259]

Because "helps" is a verb, we can only use "us" as a direct object, not an indirect object. Instead of "it helps so much to us," say, "it helps us so much. If "help" were a noun, then it would be the direct object and "us" would be the indirect object, so "it is a great help to us" would be just as good.

[@Papapapapa78]

Thank youu !

[@jasonbolster3259]

You're welcome.

[@nohmangarden1069]

Hi Emma, Thank you for your video . Your way of teaching brings a lot of motivation to us and strengthens our confidence for learning.

[@user-gy7hh7hq7v]

Hi Nohman, you're right.

[@shabanazafari8850]

Thanks so much for your amazing and benefited lessons ❤️

[@rafaelromero5392]

Thanks a lot Emma. It is very interesting. You are the best teacher. From Mexico with love.

[@marconaperu4568]

Jajaja with Love

[@englishrose6375]

THANK YOU!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Such an inspiring teacher!!!! 😍😍😍

[@mandeep-parminder]

But mam when we have to pronounce plural words then silent words can be pronounced. Like bombs

[@Tokdalanggigilima722]

it's really really helpful. thanks my beautiful teacher Emma..

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

Thanks for providing this great resource for English-as-a-second-language learners. But I would like to point out differences with between common American pronunciations and the other common English dialects. In the Australian and New Zealand varieties of English, we do often pronounce the "d" as in "handsome" and "sandwich". Also we tend to pronounce or lightly-pronounce the "l" in SOME words like "calm", "walk" and "talk". I am assuming you are American based. Thanks again for this video and I'm sure many folks have benefitted from it.

[@rosasoria6049]

Emma, you are a great teacher, and I love watching your videos.

[@minhvuongcong1061]

I found this very helpful, love you!

[@miguelromero2829]

Minh Vương Công

[@ricardoernestoamayaalvarez820]

Thank you so much for your grammar explanation Emma, you are a remarkably good English teacher.

[@khadarabdullahiidiris6932]

Hey Emma I am so excited about the terrific job you are doing. I am learning a lot from you,Emma You mean a lot to me Thanks a lot,.

[@umasanthiran120]

Thank you very much, You solved my long time trouble spelling problem, your are a good teacher

[@iortiz-sw3kb]

I honestly love the way you teach!!!

[@mohammedali-cx7ck]

It means all the English language letters are becoming silent sometimes !!! Or some letters don't become silent !!! Really your lesson is useful, thanks alot

[@tabishkhan3676]

Hats off.. I have been searching for something like this.And luckily found you. Thanks Ema for your help.

[@SuperConcy77]

I love your explanation!! Thank you!!

[@pedrovolpi8454]

I really enjoyed the class, really interesting!

[@flawyerlawyertv7454]

Thx July 22 2019

[@ghanymesley1382]

Thank u so much Emma, it was easy and important, we love you, ghany Algeria.

[@BasicEducation]

Very informative video about pronunciation and silent letter. I found many words, which usually are pronounced wrongly.

[@ivangonzalezgranda7792]

greetings from Loja Ecuador Teacher Emma

[@jasonstevensgmn4018]

Ivan González Granda animo vamos mejorando el ingles soy ecuatoriano de cañar estudio en Universidad en Boston , muy bn canal sigaos.

[@jhasmingonzales8098]

Excellent video! Just finished watching this. Very informative 👏🏻

[@Beastinvader]

I was born with a cleft lip and palate and though I have gone for a few speech therapy sessions, this helps so much. I am a very pedantic person when it comes to spelling. So in my head when I speak english, I used to visualize the words. Like "calm". Whereas some people can learn a language by hearing it, I have to speak it. As such I always pronounced letters that are silent. Knowing the RULES for when they are silent helps this pedantic brain of mine.

[@prlortakoglu9744]

Silent sounds is very important. I understand these words and syllables. Thanks Emma.

[@jiangarang]

I am a native English speaker and I've come to a realization that our language is overly fucked up lmao

[@1dayleft40]

Jiangarang Would you like to be my partner to learn English 😃... Please... I don't have any friends from native speaker 😌, would you?

[@kissindzerkiss]

because it is made up of borrowed words.

[@rutocutyy]

Oh ok thts nice how bo I get it?🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@rutocutyy]

Moooop

[@rutocutyy]

@@1dayleft40 ok

[@hectorlozano245]

thank you so much for such an amazing video I used to pronounce some of those silent letters but with your help I fixed my problem thanks a lot .

[@user-gy7hh7hq7v]

Hi, me too.

[@ibrahimshubka2008]

I am so very happy to teaching me english pronunciations and grammer rules, realy I hav'nt seen in my life teacher like you. Emma my teacher again thanks you thank you.

[@coleachiosa8689]

Thank you for explaining. I like your lessons. I learn a lot with your help.

[@user-xq6bp4cy7f]

Hi teacher in the verbe " demand" is the last "d" prounonced or not ? Thank you ..

[@dmitring1081]

Yes

[@MaciejC-qn2ft]

It's very nice lesson, but I got your point after 30 secs...

[@yolanda41204]

Thanks for the information. It is so interesting for me.

[@roman_mathew]

Excellent and informative video, thanks Emma!

[@calypsocat]

Subscribed. Thanks Emma, your channel will be very helpful in my journey to perfect my pronunciation and grammar.

[@manishkumarsingh3020]

thanks Emma its amazing video and i really helpful in learning pronunciation ... kindly upload more videos on pronunciation pattern...

[@elamordedios8210]

Hi teacher,thank you for your class. Then, base onyour explaination who shoul i pronounce: COLD, COD FELT, FED, MOLD, and MOD. MELT and MET, BALD, BAD, BOLD, VOLTAGE?? Thank you,please help me to get this.

[@gulrahimrahimi8813]

Hello Thanks Emma for your class.

[@ciaranlittle38]

The l is actually pronounced in all of those words.

[@hrandmahmoudi147]

Thanks great teacher it’s very good information 🙏🏼🙏🏼🌹🌹🌹

[@hilariocortes6303]

Good morning Emma ,,thank you , for the excellent class 🙏 it’s very helpful

[@muhammadsaqib8718]

Very helpful this pronounciation video... But how we pronounce the word "Subtitle"

[@marconaperu4568]

Easy /ˈsʌbˌtaɪ.t̬l̩/

[@hrandmahmoudi147]

Please great teacher write letters A to Z thanks 🌹🌹🌹🙏🙏💐💐💕

[@MouradHarkat]

Hello Thank you so much for this awesome linguistic video

[@rachel205]

Thank you, Emma. Excellent presentation!

[@dacommander]

I wanna ask you about "subtitle" is it the same way?

[@mohammedyaya5725]

it's an exception 👍

[@dacommander]

+Mohammadovic Yaya Thanks buddy.

[@mohammedyaya5725]

+AHMED N you welcome 🌷

[@shinmusashi44]

No because "sub" is a prefix. When you put sub with a word it means below. So sub title is below (bottom) title. The B rule is with only mb.

[@latifrehman4522]

😊

[@elsaagredano4138]

Very helpful, thanks!!!

Thank you for the video! This help me too much to improve my pronunciation. Thank you! Thank you!

[@user-tw4xb9sq7k]

Hi Emma . Love your accent and your way of delver the topic. Thanks 🙏 very much my kids and I learned a lot from you. Omar

[@matthewluck9077]

The specific rule for b after m is not to pronounce a b after an m when nothing proceeds the b in the sentence. For example, silent b--dumb, lamb; non-silent b--Cumberland, gumbo, embassy

[@Ba_A]

After you embrace this rule you shall always remember it...lol

[@koolkdny]

Bamboozle

[@liuserene2019]

Matthew Luc

[@arwaah1175]

I hate you

[@DrSanchz]

Those words the letter “b” is follow by a vowel, that’s why! I’m guessing 😂

[@mushintatsu]

why put a letter you don't have to say

[@jasonbolster3259]

Why not?

[@zzt5282]

There is a long story to it. People may have pronounced them in the past. We have to study the history of English language to find the reasons for it.

[@faizah1434]

same my qusetion, why 💔!?????

[@jasonbolster3259]

Because if you don't, it's spelled wrong.

[@faizah1434]

+Jason Bolster But If we can reading the word without the letter which is silent, we absolutely can write it without this letter.

[@carlapassos1090]

Great class of pronuciation!! Thanks!!!❤

[@lbvnrw]

My First time to watch These channel! The non native English speaker can learned. Thanks so much!

[@jajackboss]

I’m in love with you I’ve always mispronounce debt

[@aaquib608]

Can we just appreciate how pretty Emma looks😍😌

[@noadnetwork6619]

Emma, you have done a good job. Your pronunciation is beautiful. Keep it up.

[@sajedulhoquesajjad2308]

Thank you Emma.After watching this video i have learned silent letters.

[@najeeb9592]

you mean not pronounced before/ t/ not after/ t/ * You have left out a letter in ( after) as it written (afer) * Good explanation thank you.

[@johnjozry]

This video changed someone .Trust me !

[@gordiehalizadeh6420]

Simple and clear +unassuming manner of presentation...Thanks

[@eddym5532]

I wish I had an intelligent and beautiful teacher like Miss Emma, to learn English.

[@jackbitten8016]

Me too

[@abigailmorrales4082]

I love how you outfit, my teacher.

[@ArifKhan-of5cy]

You are a fucking pervert

[@tabulajoseph8733]

The Nigerian will add -oh so that to sound the silent ones.😅 e.g. "Give me yo Handoh" other examples in comments 🤣

[@josedelacruz3243]

Omg I was pronouncing my English so bad thanks Mrs. Emma for teaching us the right way!!!👍💎⚘🥂🍷❤🙏🏼

[@walidalamin61]

Thank you Emma for your great efforts Can you illustrate the shape and size of ilets passages please .Thank you

[@Ingles4allYou]

LIike she said . It is not in all cases. Example: The word remeMBer the M comes before B but it s not silenty B.

[@fernandotriana7961]

Emma says after M, not before

[@smendes2004]

In Remember, B is not the final letter. That is why it is pronounced.

[@vishudevadiga87]

Hii...Y this rule ll not apply for ...'ambulance', 'ambition'..etc...?

[@naeemsajjad5638]

these are exceptions.That's why while explaining rules she said it heppens generally(not always).

[@hrandmahmoudi147]

Thanks great teacher it’s very good information for me thanks 🙏🙏🌹🌹💐

[@pepino735]

it's been always a pretty good task doing the learning with a nice looking teacher as you

[@mazighakroune2355]

there is just a small mistake, for the silent B : "not pronounced BEFORE T "

[@nasseerbaureck6312]

torma el pitindo caca likios el pd os

[@lovarajumarthi9154]

Bro, she told in example subtle

[@candy1000000]

@@lovarajumarthi9154 Mazigh has pointed out the mistake in writing. It reads "not pronounced after t usually" above the sample words: debt, doubt, etc.

[@norlanmanithan3788]

Even AFTER is misspelled.

[@rozinafsahation9411]

She is not wrong she is always correct

[@minasbeautyhealthtips547]

guilty, guidance, built, building, guitar, guys ."U" is silent in all these words ,so "u" will be silent after "g" .

[@Mirador1]

No, "u" will be silent before "i".

[@josephmathias2753]

Thanks for your good teaching my dear. It's very helpful.

[@houssemben4312]

Hi emma this is one fo your best lessons ever keep going forward with your lovely oky lol

[@aamirshehzad7070]

What about pronouncing cold, here 'l' is not silent...plz calrify

[@tigrillo4449]

did you pay attention?

[@jenbo2490]

I think she must mean the 'ou' combination as i can think of plenty of words where the l is pronounced after the o e.g old, fold, hold, gold, sold, told etc. also colt, dolt,

[@gil_7038]

Cadê os BR aqui?

[@pudim7221]

gilddo sawazaki Aqui 🙋

[@ramkarki7346]

I can't explain in words that your teaching is so effective that it is really clear and unique.

[@Mr.Sumith_25]

Your method of teaching is very good I'm clearly understand what are you talking about... 👌👌👌 Even though I'm not a native speaker. You're doing a good job... ❤️❤️❤️

[@ismailabdelkader2568]

Thank you teacher

[@The_Darkning]

I guess that B not pronounced BEFORE T, NOT AFTER

[@maagmaximus]

You are right.

[@alsrinjanitrekking]

I really love your explanation about the pronunciation. it's easy to master

[@RiversideUSA]

I can't believe I mispronounce thumb, debt,salmon , sandwich, handsome, calm. calm, folk. Thank u million times dearest.

[@mygmail2402]

Excuse me dear !! you've mentioned that we don't pronounce 'B' if came after 'm' nice , then what about the word 'ambulance' ?!! why do we pronounce the 'B' here ? secondly , the 2nd rule ( in the video at 4:25) you typed 'B' (after) 'T' while in the examples that you have mentioned the 'B' came 'before' 'T' like debt , the B is before T not after T Fourth rule : you've mentioned that silent 'L' after vowels (A,O,U) so my question is , what about the word ( Simulation ) why do we pronounce the 'L' here ?

[@thangquocnguyenmdp]

My Gmail ...... bomber, and why you have to mentioned the liberal coward who bowed around the globe?

[@Xux26xuX]

She didn't mentionned it, but for the silent 'M' of "MB", it works only for the end of the word. And for the Silent 'L' after (A,O,U) i guess there are some exceptions.

[@AlexLaPanda]

What kind of alien doesn't say the D in sandwich?

[@madamii]

Alex Croft I know right!!!

[@rodthom86]

English is lazy a lot of times...at least in England.

[@PianoFanatic1989]

Pnag It's how language evolves though. 'N' and 'd' are pronounced in the same area of the mouth; it's too much work to produce both sounds back to back, so people tend to drop the 'd.' That's how 'b' lost its sounds in words like 'dumb,' 'comb,' etc.

[@Ralph_Smith0724]

I don't pronounce it. Why not? Because it's a cluster.

[@saidbello133]

AlexLaPanda really we don't pronounce the letter D, and we also assimilate the letter n, to sound m as a result of the neighbouring sound w, so sandwich changes to sound 'samwich'.

[@humancharityfoundation2909]

Thanks Ema for lovely presentation!

[@ronaldooliveira8881]

Hello Emma. Those are very good tips, thanks to help us! Greetings from Brazil. See you!!!

[@emmanuela.2932]

How do you pronounce *"Hellary for prison 2016"*?

[@ismaeltenenbaum4103]

Please, leave politics out of here.

[@horadoingles-9220]

Why It looks like she is pronouncing the b

[@Beastinvader]

I'm no expert, but I think the purpose of the b makes the vocal a long vocal. So instead of a fast "bom" you say "booooom". Her mouth is closed so you think she looks like she pronounces the "b".

[@batissiobenlarbi1935]

You are realy a real teacher...nobody had been teaching us this

[@prjurandirnunes]

I learn much com the teacher Emma. . Thank you my friend Emma,by everything.

[@Gerald0613]

so salmon and semen sounds the same??

[@Gerald0613]

that's not how she pronounces it at 11:23

[@falahhasan9131]

Kistavári shit...u are totally right man

[@diegoenrique03]

Los que hablamos español también nos dimos cuenta de eso

[@_nodoubt]

your listening is a little off, she's pronouncing it as "a" not "ee"

[@nickweems3793]

Korg wut?

[@wang5879]

Very useful pronounce lesson,help a lot, thank you so much!

[@eddieantoniomessindamico2596]

Hey! You're so right! and what about tomb or ( sorry) womb, these are particularly weird, aren't they? Thanks for your job.

[@topmaths0.69]

I never heard for these rules before. Thanks a lot.