Silent letters make English spelling and pronunciation tricky, and silent H is no exception. In many English words, the letter H appears in the spelling but is not pronounced. Understanding when H is silent can help learners improve pronunciation, spelling, and listening skills.
What Is Silent H?
A silent H occurs when the letter H is written in a word but not spoken in pronunciation. It often appears at the beginning, middle, or after certain letters, especially in words borrowed from French, Latin, or Greek.
Example:
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“Hour” → pronounced /aʊər/
The H is not pronounced even though it is written.
When Is H Silent?
1. At the Beginning of Some Words
In many English words, especially those from French, the H at the start is silent.
Examples:
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hour
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honest
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honor
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heir
These words start with a vowel sound, not an “h” sound.
2. After the Letter W
When W + H appears together at the start of certain words, the H is silent.
Examples:
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what
- when
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why
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where
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whether
These words are often pronounced as if they begin with just the W sound.
3. After the Letter G
When GH appears in the middle or end of a word, the H is usually silent (and often the G is too).
Examples:
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light
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thought
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daughter
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night
Here, the H doesn’t make a sound—sometimes the whole “gh” becomes silent.
4. In Some Names and Borrowed Words
Words from French, Greek, and Latin often keep the letter H in spelling but not pronunciation.
Examples:
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Thomas
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Rachel
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John
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rhetoric
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vehicle (in some accents)
Common Words with Silent H
| Word | IPA Pronunciation |
| honest | /ˈɒnɪst/ |
| honor | /ˈɒnər/ |
| hour | /aʊər/ |
| heir | /eər/ |
| herb (US) | /ɜːrb/ |
| homage | /ˈɒmɪdʒ/ |
| hostler/ostler | /ˈɒslər/ |
| ghost | /ɡoʊst/ |
| ghoul | /ɡuːl/ |
| gherkin | /ˈɡɜːkɪn/ |
| aghast | /əˈɡɑːst/ |
| shepherd | /ˈʃɛpərd/ |
| exhaust | /ɪɡˈzɔːst/ |
| exhilarate | /ɪɡˈzɪləˌreɪt/ |
| exhibition | /ˌɛksɪˈbɪʃən/ |
| rhinoceros | /raɪˈnɒsərəs/ |
| rhapsody | /ˈræpsədi/ |
| rhythm | /ˈrɪðəm/ |
| rhetoric | /ˈrɛtərɪk/ |
| rhapsodize | /ˈræpsədaɪz/ |
| shepherdess | /ˈʃɛpərdɛs/ |
| Thailand | /ˈtaɪlənd/ |
| Thames | /tɛmz/ |
| ghastly | /ˈɡæs(t)li/ |
| ghetto | /ˈɡɛtoʊ/ |
| spaghetti | /spəˈɡɛti/ |
| shepherding | /ˈʃɛpərdɪŋ/ |
Tips to Master Silent H Words
✅ Listen to native pronunciation – Hearing the word helps you remember which letters are silent.
✅ Learn patterns instead of memorizing every word.
✅ Practice with IPA to understand the true sounds.
✅ Read aloud and compare with audio examples.
✅ Group similar words together (like hour, honest, honor).
Quick Practice Sentences
Try reading these sentences and skip the silent H sound:
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I waited for an hour in the rain.
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She is an honest person.
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The heir to the fortune arrived.
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What are you doing tonight?
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The sky looked bright at night.