Silent k
Encyclopedia
A silent ⟨k⟩ occurs when the letter ⟨k
⟩ occurs in a word but does not actually reflect the pronunciation of a voiceless velar plosive
(/k/), or any sound for that matter. A silent ⟨k⟩ is quite common in the English language
, most often preceding an ⟨n⟩ at the beginning of a word. There are rare exceptions to this rule; one example is Knoebels Grove located in Pennsylvania.
show that the ⟨k⟩ was likely a voiceless velar plosive
in Proto-Germanic (compare German
Knecht to knight, Knoten to knot, etc.).
K
K is the eleventh letter of the English and basic modern Latin alphabet.-History and usage:In English, the letter K usually represents the voiceless velar plosive; this sound is also transcribed by in the International Phonetic Alphabet and X-SAMPA....
⟩ occurs in a word but does not actually reflect the pronunciation of a voiceless velar plosive
Voiceless velar plosive
The voiceless velar stop or voiceless velar plosive is a type of consonantal sound used in many spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is , and the equivalent X-SAMPA symbol is k....
(/k/), or any sound for that matter. A silent ⟨k⟩ is quite common in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, most often preceding an ⟨n⟩ at the beginning of a word. There are rare exceptions to this rule; one example is Knoebels Grove located in Pennsylvania.
Etymology
In Old English the ⟨k⟩ was not silent. Cognates in other Germanic languagesGermanic languages
The Germanic languages constitute a sub-branch of the Indo-European language family. The common ancestor of all of the languages in this branch is called Proto-Germanic , which was spoken in approximately the mid-1st millennium BC in Iron Age northern Europe...
show that the ⟨k⟩ was likely a voiceless velar plosive
Voiceless velar plosive
The voiceless velar stop or voiceless velar plosive is a type of consonantal sound used in many spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is , and the equivalent X-SAMPA symbol is k....
in Proto-Germanic (compare German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
Knecht to knight, Knoten to knot, etc.).
Nouns
- knapsack,
- knar,
- knave
- knawel
- knead
- knee
- knapweed
- knick-knack
- knickers
- knife
- knight
- knob
- knop
- knotweed
- knout
- knock, knocker
- knoll
- knowledge
- knuckle
- knur
- knurl
Verbs
- knack
- knap
- knock
- kneel
- knell
- knit
- knock
- knot
- know
- knut