One more word

[Heather]

Subtle - with a silent "b". What other words can you think of in the English language with a silent "b"?

[mummsie]

"debt" would be one Heather.


Sue

[Heather]

Both words derived from the Latin. Could be a pattern happening here people! I wonder if the "b" is pronounced in the Latin and if so I wonder where along the line the "b" became silent.

debitum

subtilis

any others?

[mummsie]

plumber
womb

[Dave Smith]

What a dumB question

[Maureen K Clifford]

I am numbed and completely dumbfounded by this conversation

[Neville Briggs]

Limb, Lamb, comb, climb, tomb, numbskull, aplomb, plumbline,


There is an old story about Hollywood actress Jean Harlow ( famous for her sexy film roles ) who was having dinner at a function with the British Prime Minister's wife Margot Asquith. Jean Harlow kept pronouncing the PM's wife's name as Mar-gott, until Margot turned to her and said ' No Jean, it's a silent T, like Harlow "
hiss....ow..ow..hiss

[william williams]

This I cannot follow just who is correct my cousin she had a bad speech impediment and had elecution lessons for three years and had to correct the problem by repeating these two words, amongst other words WOMB and PLUMBER were word she always had to repeat her instructor claimed those two word were bastidized words.

The letter B was not silent in useing correct speech

Bill the old Battler

[Heather]

Limb, Latin limus

Lamb, Old English

comb, Old English

climb, Old English

tomb, from the Greek

aplomb, French

womb Old English

No apparent pattern. Just words from people who probably spoke funny.


Ok Dave, I'll admit, not a lot of thought went into what other words there could be - I left that up to you lot to think about 'cause I'm a tad busy at present. I was pretty hung up on "subtle". Think of all the extra typing we have to do for silent letters that we don't really need - and all the paper we could save if we didn't use them!

[Neville Briggs]

crumb, bomb.