Learning to pronounce English words correctly can be challenging, especially when silent letters are involved. One common silent letter is the “U.” Let’s explore when and where “U” is silent and how you can improve your pronunciation!

Silent “U” After “G”

In many words where “U” follows the letter “G” and comes before a vowel, the “U” is not pronounced. Here are a few examples:

• Guest (pronounced /ɡest/): “Our guest has arrived.”
• Guide (pronounced /ɡaɪd/): “The tour guide was very knowledgeable.”
• Guitar (pronounced /ɡɪˈtɑ:/): “He plays the guitar beautifully.”

Silent “U” After “Q”

When “U” follows the letter “Q,” it either remains silent or becomes part of the /kw/ sound. Let’s look at some common examples:

• Queue (pronounced /kjuː/): “We waited in a long queue.”
• Quick (pronounced /kwɪk/): “She gave a quick reply.”
• Quiet (pronounced /ˈkwaɪət/): “The room was completely quiet.”

Other Words with Silent “U”

There are other words where the “U” remains silent but don’t follow the previous patterns. Here are a few examples:

• Biscuit (pronounced /ˈbɪskɪt/): “Would you like a biscuit?”
• Building (pronounced /ˈbɪldɪŋ/): “The building is old but beautiful.”
• Disguise (pronounced /dɪsˈɡaɪz/): “He wore a disguise to the party.”

Final Tips

Pay attention to the words with silent letters as they often follow patterns, but practice is key. By listening and repeating these words, you’ll improve your pronunciation over time. Keep practicing—you’re doing great!

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