Silent L Words

A lot of the silent letter posts we've shared have followed simple, repeatable patterns; Silent K always comes before an N, for example. Silent L is a little harder. We find it in lots of different words, and they are generally very common words. Many students try to pronounce these Ls, but in all these words, the L is completely silent.

In walk, chalk, and talk, the L comes after an A, and the vowel is pronounced like a short O. Half and calf have an AL, too, but the vowel is pronounced like the short A in staff. In could, should, and would, the L comes after OU, and the sound is exactly like the OO in good.

  
Silent L Words
  
    Word
    IPA
    PoS
    Definition
  
    walk
    /wɔk/
    v.
    to move with the legs
  
    calm
    /kɑm/
    adj.
    not angry, upset, or excited
  
    folks
    /foʊks/
    n.
    people in general
  
    half
    /hæf/
    n.
    one of two equal parts
  
    talk
    /tɔk/
    v.
    to express thoughts in words
  
    chalk
    /ʧɑk/
    n.
    a soft rock used for writing
  
    could
    /kʊd/
    v.
    the past tense of can