Silent Letters Quiz
1 / 15Identify which letter is silent in each word!
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Which letter is silent in the word 'knight'?
About Silent Letters Quiz
Silent Letters Quiz is a free word games quiz with 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 5 easy, 5 medium, 5 hard questions. Identify which letter is silent in each word! A typical run takes about 7 minutes, hints are always one tap away, and your streak ticks up the first time you finish a game on a given day.
A few sample questions
1. Which letter is silent in the word 'knight'?
Answer: K
The 'k' is silent in 'knight.' In Old English, the 'k' was actually pronounced (kuh-nicht), but over centuries the pronunciation changed while the spelling remained.
2. Which letter is silent in the word 'comb'?
Answer: B
The 'b' is silent in 'comb.' The final 'b' after 'm' became silent in English by the late 1300s, but the spelling was kept. Other examples include 'lamb' and 'thumb.'
3. Which letter is silent in the word 'write'?
Answer: W
The 'w' is silent in 'write.' In Old English, the 'w' was pronounced, but it became silent before 'r' during the 15th-17th centuries. Other examples include 'wrong,' 'wrist,' and 'wreck.'
4. Which letter is silent in the word 'honest'?
Answer: H
The 'h' is silent in 'honest.' This word came from Old French, where the 'h' was never pronounced. English adopted the spelling but kept the French pronunciation.
5. Which letter is silent in the word 'listen'?
Answer: T
The 't' is silent in 'listen.' Several English words have a silent 't,' including 'fasten,' 'castle,' 'whistle,' and 'Christmas.'
Things you'll learn along the way
- The 'p' is silent in 'psychology.' Words beginning with 'ps-' come from Greek, where the 'p' was pronounced. English dropped the pronunciation but kept the spelling to preserve the Greek root 'psyche' (soul/mind).
- The 'g' is silent in 'gnaw.' The 'gn-' combination at the beginning of words comes from Old English and Germanic roots where the 'g' was originally pronounced. Other examples include 'gnat,' 'gnome,' and 'gnu.'
- The 'b' is silent in 'doubt.' The word came from Old French 'doute' (no 'b'), but scholars added the 'b' to reflect the Latin root 'dubitare.' The 'b' was never pronounced in English.
Frequently asked questions
What's a good follow-up after Silent Letters Quiz?
If you enjoyed this word games quiz, try the Daily Challenge — five rotating questions, refreshed every 24 hours, that count toward your streak. You can also use the Surprise Me button on the homepage to land on a different game type for variety.
Can I print Silent Letters Quiz?
Yes — use the Print button at the top of the page for a clean question sheet, or "Print with Answers" to make an answer key. Printed sheets work well for group play at home, in a classroom, or at a senior center.
Will I lose my progress if I close the page?
Your overall progress — XP, streaks, and badges — is saved in your browser automatically. A quiz that's underway restarts if you leave mid-game, but at about 7 minutes, Silent Letters Quiz fits comfortably in one sitting.
How many questions are in Silent Letters Quiz?
Silent Letters Quiz has 15 multiple-choice questions. Each one has four answer options and an explanation that appears after you answer, so you learn something even when you miss.
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