Silent W

Learning the Silent W
The silent “w” in English has a fairly specific rule, making it easier to remember than some other silent letters.

1. The Main Rule for Silent “w”
   The letter “w” is almost always silent when it comes before the letter “r” at the beginning of a word. This is the primary rule to remember.
   Examples:
   wrap, wrapper, wrath, wreck, wren, wrench, wrestle, wretch, wriggle, wring, wrinkle, wrist, write, writer, written, wrong, wrought, wry

2. A Few Other Words with Silent “w”:
   Besides the “wr” combination, there are a few other common words where “w” is silent:
   answer, sword, two, who, whom, whose, whole

The following diagram shows some words with the silent W. Practice saying these words. Scroll down the page for more examples.

 

Key Points to Remember:

• “wr” at the beginning: The silent “w” almost exclusively occurs at the beginning of words when followed by “r.”
• The “r” is pronounced: The “r” sound is always pronounced.

When is the Letter ‘w’ Silent in English?
Words and Rules for Silent Letter W

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The WR Sound | Phonics

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Silent w - answer, sword, wrong

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Silent Letters
Silent B	Silent C	Silent D
Silent E	Silent G	Silent GH
Silent H	Silent K	Silent L
Silent T	Silent W

Learn the Sounds of the Letters

Learning Short Vowels

Short Vowels
Short A	Short E	Short I
Short O	Short U	Short Vowels

Learning Long Vowels

Long Vowels
Long A	Long E	Long I
Long O	Long U	Y (vowel)
Long Vowels	Short, Long Vowels

Compare Short & Long Vowels

Short & Long Vowels
Short & Long A	Short & Long E	Short & Long I
Short & Long O	Short & Long U	Short I & Long E

Learning Consonants

Consonants
Letter B	Hard C	Soft C
Letter D	Letter F	Hard G
Soft G	Letter H	Letter J
Letter K	Letter L	Letter M
Letter N	Letter P	Letter Q
Letter R	Letter S	Letter T
Letter V	Letter W	Letter X
Letter Y	Letter Z	S & Z Sounds

Consonant Blends
BL Sound	CL Sound	FL Sound
GL Sound	PL Sound	SL Sound
BR Sound	CR Sound	DR Sound
FR Sound	GR Sound	PR Sound
TR Sound	SK Sound	SN Sound
SP Sound	ST Sound
3-letter Blends Str, Spr, Scr, Str, Shr, Spl, Thr	Ending Blends Nd, Nt, Nk, St, Ft, Lp, Ld, Lt, Mp, Sk

Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.

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