Silent K encyclopedia topics

Etymology

In Old English the /k/ was not silent (pronounced dn-, hn-, tn-) and, as can be seen in other Germanic languages, words with the same root still pronounce the k as a voiceless velar plosive (compare German Knecht to knight, Knoten to knot, et al.).

Words

Words which have a silent k include:

kkgleursant (noun),
knack (verb),
knacker (noun, verb),
knap (verb),
knapsack (noun),
knapweed (noun),
knar (noun),
knave (noun),
knawel (noun),
knead (noun),
knee (noun) (and its derivatives, kneecap, kneeboard, etc.),
knock (verb) (and derivatives, knockout, knockers, etc.),
kneel (verb),
knell (verb),
knick-knack (noun),
knickers (noun),
knife (noun),
knight (noun),
knit (verb),
knob (noun),
knock (verb),
knop (noun),
knoll (noun),
knot (verb),
knotweed (noun),
knout (noun),
know (verb) (and its other forms and derivatives, knew, known, know-how, etc.)
knowledge (noun),
knuckle (noun),
knur (verb),
knurl (noun)

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Last updated on Tuesday July 22, 2008 at 08:32:24 PDT (GMT -0700)
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Wikipedia

A silent k occurs when the letter k is not pronounced in a word. A silent k is quite common in the English language. A silent K occurs when it is followed by an N in the word.