There is a stand up comic from Europe who does a whole skit about English as a second language and English words with silent letters, funny as h e l l.
I’ve noticed a few people over the years who actually say “sub-tul”…not sure if it is regional or they just overdosed on phonics.
Kind of like “often”. I grew up saying “off-en”, but then some grade school teachers made a big deal of saying “off-ten”…made me wonder if I was saying it right, but then I decided I didn’t care.
Where I live now, they don’t just say “off-en” but they drop a lot of Ts for some reason…“button” is “buh-un” and “subtle” is “suh-ul”.
I’m sure word nerds have written may great and learned papers on the subject…
cmxx about 22 hours ago
Superfluous?
The Duke about 21 hours ago
The bird is the word!
Doug K about 17 hours ago
The subtle “b” in the word “subtle”
Dobie Premium Member about 17 hours ago
Dumᵇ
markkahler52 about 16 hours ago
Never know why it just isn’t “SUTTLE.” (Not subtle enough?!)
goboboyd about 15 hours ago
It bothers me that the silent B in subtle doesn’t bother me.
Imagine about 15 hours ago
Illiterate…
ladykat about 15 hours ago
Silent. Silent is the word you’re looking for.
christelisbetty about 14 hours ago
French ?
Zebrastripes about 13 hours ago
….and
Know, knee, knife, knit, knob, knuckle Honor, heir, honest, rhinoceros, spaghetti Psychology, psalm, receipt, raspberrySilent B: Lamb, debt, subtle, dumb, thumb,Talk, should, salmon, calf, could, would,Debris, aisle, island, Ballet, buffet, listen, castle, whistle,Write, answer, sword, Science, indict, scent, Sign, gnat, align, foreign, design, assign, Bridge, ledge, edge, Mnemonic, Autumn, column
Whew! I need to wet my whistle now! ☺️☺️
Thank you Google!
MuddyUSA Premium Member about 12 hours ago
B is so silent in subtle…………
Howard'sMyHero about 12 hours ago
Whoopee, it’s a spelling b, be, bee, B, Be, Bee …!
Shikamoo Premium Member about 11 hours ago
Subtle. To B or not to B, that is the question.
Smeagol about 11 hours ago
There is a stand up comic from Europe who does a whole skit about English as a second language and English words with silent letters, funny as h e l l.
CleverHans Premium Member about 8 hours ago
I’ve noticed a few people over the years who actually say “sub-tul”…not sure if it is regional or they just overdosed on phonics.
Kind of like “often”. I grew up saying “off-en”, but then some grade school teachers made a big deal of saying “off-ten”…made me wonder if I was saying it right, but then I decided I didn’t care.
Where I live now, they don’t just say “off-en” but they drop a lot of Ts for some reason…“button” is “buh-un” and “subtle” is “suh-ul”.
I’m sure word nerds have written may great and learned papers on the subject…
Chris Sherlock about 6 hours ago
The other letters probably wish the B would be silent.
Laurie Stoker Premium Member about 5 hours ago
You had to go there, didn’t you, Dave. Headache from eye rolling!
crazeekatlady about 2 hours ago
At work we had a p; drive. Our internal IT was talking to the home office IT. “Yes, problem is on the P drive as in p-sychiatrist.”