The silent letter N in English can be tricky for learners because the N is written but not pronounced. In this guide, you’ll learn the rules of silent N, see common words like autumn, hymn, and column, and practice with examples to improve your pronunciation.
What Is a Silent Letter N?
Definition
A silent letter N appears when the letter N is written in a word but not spoken in pronunciation. The spelling stays the same, but the N sound disappears.
Listen to the audio below and repeat the silent N words:
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autumn → /ˈɔːtəm/ → The N is silent.
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hymn → /hɪm/ → The N is silent here too.
Why Does the Letter N Become Silent?
The silent letter N has historical roots:
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Many words with silent N came from Latin, Old French, and Middle English.
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Over centuries, English speakers simplified pronunciation, dropping the N sound.
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Silent N often happens when N comes after M or in special letter combinations like -mn.
Common Rules for Silent Letter N
Silent N words follow some clear spelling patterns.
Silent N after M at the End of Words
When M is followed by N at the end of a word, the N is silent.
Examples:
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autumn → /ˈɔːtəm/ → “We love the colors of autumn.”
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hymn → /hɪm/ → “They sang a beautiful hymn.”
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column → /ˈkɒləm/ → “That ancient column is broken.”
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solemn → /ˈsɒləm/ → “He gave a solemn promise.”
Silent N in “-mn” Combinations
The letter N is silent in many -mn words.
Examples:
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damn → /dæm/ → “What a damn shame!”
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condemn → /kənˈdem/ → “They will condemn the action.”
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solemn → /ˈsɒləm/ → “It was a solemn ceremony.”
Silent N before “K” or “G” (rare cases)
This rule is less common. In some old forms or regional variations, the N may be silent before K or G.
Examples:
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gnaw → /nɔː/ (really a silent G, not N, but related spelling pattern).
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kenning (in older poetry, N sound may vary).
For modern English learners, focus more on the -mn words.
Other Special Cases
Some silent letter N words don’t follow the main rules.
Examples:
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mnemonic → /nɪˈmɒnɪk/ → The N at the beginning is silent.
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contemn → /kənˈtem/ → Rare word, the N is silent.
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hymnody → /ˈhɪm.ə.di/ → Related to “hymn,” N is not pronounced.
Complete List of Silent N Words
Here’s a table of the silent letter N words in English.
| Word | IPA | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| autumn | /ˈɔːtəm/ | We love the colors of autumn. |
| hymn | /hɪm/ | They sang a beautiful hymn. |
| hymnal | /ˈhɪmnəl/ | She opened the church hymnal. |
| hymnody | /ˈhɪm.ə.di/ | Hymnody is the singing of hymns. |
| column | /ˈkɒləm/ | That ancient column is broken. |
| solemn | /ˈsɒləm/ | He gave a solemn promise. |
| condemn | /kənˈdem/ | They will condemn the action. |
| contemn | /kənˈtem/ | He seemed to contemn their ideas. |
| damn | /dæm/ | What a damn shame! |
| mnemonic | /nɪˈmɒnɪk/ | A mnemonic helps you remember rules. |
Practice with Silent N
Reading Practice 1:
Read the passage aloud. Notice how the letter N is written but not pronounced.
In the cool days of autumn, people often sing a hymn at church. At the park, I saw an old stone column that looked very solemn. Some people may quickly condemn mistakes, but a good mnemonic can help us remember lessons without stress.