English words that end with a Silent E

Category: Spelling

Silent E

The term silent E refers to the use of an unpronounced E after another letter (usually a consonant) at the end of a word. ​
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Here are six rules for the use of silent final -E

Rule #1 - Show vowel sounds

 In most cases, a silent E at the end of a word changes its pronunciation. ​In C-V-C words, the vowel is almost always a "short" vowel. When we add an silent final -E, it changes the short vowel to a long vowel sound. ​Silent final -E makes the vowel say its name.
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For example:​

• Hat /hæt/ has a short A sound, and Hate /heɪt/ has a long A sound.
• Them /ðɛm/ has a short E sound, and Theme  /θim/ has a long E sound.
• Tim /tɪm/ has a short I sound, and Time /taɪm/ has a long I sound.
• Hop /hɑp/ has a short O sound, and Hope /hoʊp/ has a long O sound.
• Cut /kʌt/ has a short U sound, and Cute /kiut/ has a long U sound.

​Rule #2 - Show consonant sounds

A. The silent E tells a C or G to make a soft sound.
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For example:

Soft C /s/

• ice /aɪs/.
• lettuce /ˈlɛtəs/.
• office /ˈɔfəs/.
• price /praɪs/.
• voice /vɔɪs/. 

Soft G /ʤ/

• age /eɪʤ/.
• college /ˈkɑlɪʤ/.
• large /lɑrʤ/.
• message /ˈmɛsəʤ/.
• page /peɪʤ/.

B. The silent E tells TH to make a voiced sound. 
In most words that end in TH, it is pronounce as /θ/, an unvoiced consonant sound, for example bath, month, birth, teeth, etc. When a final TH is followed by E, however, it almost takes the voiced consonant sound /ð/.

​For example:

• bathe /beɪð/.
• breathe /brið/.

Rule #3 - Every syllable must have a vowel

The rules of English spelling state that every syllable must have a vowel. A silent E following a syllabic L prevents words from violating the spelling rule.

​For example:

• ap-ple /ˈæpəl/.
• bub-ble /ˈbʌbəl/.
• can-dle /ˈkændəl/.
• cir-cle /ˈsɜrkəl/.
• goo-gle /ˈgugəl/.
• nee-dle /ˈnidəl/.

• peo-ple /ˈpipəl/.
• pick-le /ˈpɪkəl/.
• puz-zle /ˈpʌzəl/.
• ta-ble /ˈteɪbəl/.
• tur-tle /ˈtɜrtəl/.
• waf-fle /ˈwɑfəl/.

​Rule #4 - Distinguish homophones

For example:

• by /baɪ/ - bye /baɪ/.

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​​Rule #5 - Stop words ending in U and V

The rules of English spelling state that words cannot end with a u or v. This is a consonant spelling rule. The silent final E is not there to change the pronunciation of the vowel.
​

For example:

• adjective /ˈæʤɪktɪv/.
• argue /ˈɑrgju/.
• blue /blu/.
• drive /draɪv/.
• give /gɪv/.
• have /hæv/.
• love /lʌv/.
• rescue /ˈrɛskju/.
• ​wave /weɪv/.

Note that words borrowed from other language such as bureau, chateau, jujitsu, menu, tiramisu and tofu and abbreviations such as flu (influenza) and gov (government) can end in a u or v.

​​Rule #6 - Keep singular nouns from ending in S

Silent E keeps a singular noun from ending in a single S. 

For example:

• base /beɪs/.
• course /kɔrs/.
• cheese /ˈprɑməs/.
• house /haʊz/.
• goose /gus/.
• mouse /maʊz/.
• promise /ˈprɑməs/.
• verse /vɜrs/.

Exceptions

The silent E has several roles. However, generally there are exceptions, here's a list of some words that break the rules:

• are /ɑr/.
• come /kʌm/.
• discipline /ˈdɪsəplən/. 
• done /dʌn/.
• gone /gɔn/.
• none /nʌn/.
• one /wʌn/.
• some /sʌm/. 
• sure /ʃʊr/.
• there /ðɛr/.
• where /wɛr/.
• whose /huz/.

Also, keep in mind that there are few words in which the silent  final -E isn't silent at all. 

For example:

• acne /ˈækni/.
• apostrophe /əˈpɑstrəfi/.
• fiance /fiˈɑnˌseɪ/.
• karate /kəˈrɑti/.
• recipe /ˈrɛsəpi/.
• resume /rɪˈzum/.

Videos

Jack Hartmann's Silent E - Phonics song for kids

The Bazillions - Silent E