English Pronunciation Tip of the Day
Tip 34
Category:
Spelling-to-sound
Author: JCW
Silent <b>
When the letter b comes before t, it is always silent. Thus debt /det/, doubt /daUt/, subtle /"sVtl/, doubting /"daUtIN/. (Well, nearly always: there are one or two words like subtitle /"sVb%taItl/, subtract /s@b"tr{kt/, where sub- is a prefix.)
When the letter b comes after m at the end of a word, it is always silent. Thus thumb /TVm/, comb /k@Um/, climb /klaIm/. This also applies when there is an inflectional ending, as in bombing /"bQmIN/, combed /k@Umd/, climber /"klaIm@/. But otherwise, when <-mb-> is in the middle of a word the pronunciation is /mb/. Thus December /dI"semb@/, thimble /"TImbl/, tumbler /"tVmbl@/.
In which of the following words is the <b> silent?
|
indebtedness |
undoubtedly |
indubitably | subterranean | Crabtree | bombs | symbol |
|
dumbing-down |
crumble |
lambskin | climbers | clambers | humbly | tremble |
Answers
indebtedness undoubtedly bombs dumbing-down lambskin climbers