Silent k and g: Difference between revisions

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A silent ⟨k⟩ occurs when the letter ⟨k⟩ appears 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.

While not as common, the letter ⟨g⟩ will also become silent when placed in front of an ⟨n⟩ at the beginning of a word, rather than being realized as a voiced velar plosive (/g/). An exception is the acronym GNU.

Etymology

In Old English, ⟨k⟩ and ⟨g⟩ were not silent in these words. Cognates in other Germanic languages show that the ⟨k⟩ was likely a voiceless velar plosive in Proto-Germanic (compare German Knecht to knight, Knoten to knot, etc.).

Words

Following is a list of words that include a silent ⟨k). For verbs, only the infinitive form of the verb is given, not any conjugations:

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-A '''silent ⟨k⟩''' occurs when the letter ⟨[[k]]⟩ occurs in a word but does not actually reflect the pronunciation of a [[voiceless velar plosive]] ({{IPA|/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.
+A '''silent ⟨k⟩''' occurs when the letter ⟨[[k]]⟩ appears in a word but does not actually reflect the pronunciation of a [[voiceless velar plosive]] ({{IPA|/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]].
+While not as common, the letter ⟨[[g]]⟩ will also become silent when placed in front of an ⟨n⟩ at the beginning of a word, rather than being realized as a [[voiced velar plosive]] ({{IPA|/g/}}). An exception is the acronym [[GNU]].
 == Etymology ==
-In [[Old English]] the ⟨k⟩ was not silent.  Cognates in other [[Germanic languages]] show that the ⟨k⟩ was likely a [[voiceless velar plosive]] in [[Proto-Germanic]] (compare [[German language|German]] ''Knecht'' to ''knight'', ''Knoten'' to ''knot'', etc.).
+In [[Old English]], ⟨k⟩ and ⟨g⟩ were not silent in these words.  Cognates in other [[Germanic languages]] show that the ⟨k⟩ was likely a [[voiceless velar plosive]] in [[Proto-Germanic]] (compare [[German language|German]] ''Knecht'' to ''knight'', ''Knoten'' to ''knot'', etc.).
 == Words ==
-Following is a list of words that include a silent ⟨k⟩:
+Following is a list of words that include a silent ⟨k). For verbs, only the infinitive form of the verb is given, not any conjugations:
+{{Col-begin}}
+{{Col-4}}
 ===Nouns===
+* [[wiktionary:knackwurst|knackwurst]]
-* '''k'''nockers,
+* [[wiktionary:knapsack|knapsack]]
-* '''k'''napsack,
+* [[wiktionary:knar|knar]]
-* '''k'''nar,
+* [[wiktionary:knaur|knaur]]
-* '''k'''nave
+* [[wiktionary:knave|knave]]
-* '''k'''nawel
+* [[wiktionary:knawel|knawel]]
-* '''k'''nead
+* [[wiktionary:knee|knee]]
-* '''k'''nee
+* [[wiktionary:knapweed|knapweed]]
-* '''k'''napweed
+* [[wiktionary:knick-knack|knick-knack]]
-* '''k'''nick-'''k'''nack
+* [[wiktionary:knickers|knickers]]
-* '''k'''nickers
+* [[wiktionary:knife|knife]]
-* '''k'''nife
+* [[wiktionary:knight|knight]]
-* '''k'''night
+* [[wiktionary:knob|knob]]
-* '''k'''nob
+* [[wiktionary:knop|knop]]
-* '''k'''nop
+* [[wiktionary:knotweed|knotweed]]
-* '''k'''notweed
+* [[wiktionary:knout|knout]]
-* '''k'''nout
+* [[wiktionary:knock|knock]], knocker
-* '''k'''nock, '''k'''nocker
+* [[wiktionary:knoll|knoll]]
-* '''k'''noll
+* [[wiktionary:knowledge|knowledge]]
-* '''k'''nowledge
+* [[wiktionary:knuckle|knuckle]]
-* '''k'''nuckle
+* [[wiktionary:knur|knur]]
-* '''k'''nur
+* [[wiktionary:knurl|knurl]]
-* '''k'''nurl
+{{Col-4}}
 ===Verbs===
+* [[wiktionary:knack|knack]]
-* '''k'''nack
+* [[wiktionary:knead|knead]]
-* '''k'''nap
+* [[wiktionary:knock|knock]]
-* '''k'''nock
+* [[wiktionary:kneel|kneel]]
-* '''k'''neel
+* [[wiktionary:knell|knell]]
-* '''k'''nell
+* [[wiktionary:knit|knit]]
-* '''k'''nit
+* [[wiktionary:knock|knock]]
-* '''k'''nock
+* [[wiktionary:knot|knot]]
-* '''k'''not
+* [[wiktionary:know|know]]
-* '''k'''now
+* [[wiktionary:knuckleball|knuckleball]]
-* '''k'''nut
+* [[wiktionary:knut|knut]]
+{{Col-4}}
+===Others===
+* [[wiktionary:knuepple|knuepple]]
+* [[wiktionary:knacker|knacker]]
+{{Col-4}}
+===⟨gn⟩===
+* [[wiktionary:gnar|gnar]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnarl|gnarl]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnarr|gnarr]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnash|gnash]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnat|gnat]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnathic|gnathic]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnathite|gnathite]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnaw|gnaw]]
+* [[wiktionary:gneiss|gneiss]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnocchi|gnocchi]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnome|gnome]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnomon|gnomon]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnosis|gnosis]]
+* [[wiktionary:gnotobiotics|gnotobiotics]]
+{{Col-end}}
-===Others===
-* '''k'''nuepple
-* '''k'''nacker
-{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
+{{Expand list|date=June 2012}}
 ==See also==