Legal English Lesson: Words with a Silent B
Some words in English have a silent B letter – that means that we do not pronounce it, so the letter is ‘silent’.
Have you ever wondered which Legal English words have a silent B?
Let’s have a look at a few examples.
Debt
Debt has a silent B and the word is pronounced /det/ (UK).
My client asked me if I knew any reliable debt collectors.
If you’re struggling to keep up with debt payments, you can seek legal advice.
Debtor
Debtor is pronounced /ˈdet.ər/ (UK). We do not pronounce B.
The new legislation is going to protect vulnerable debtors.
Doubt
Doubt is pronounced /daʊt/ (UK).
The prosecution needs to prove to the court beyond reasonable doubt that ..
Bomb
Bomb is a surprising word for many students as quite often in their mother tongue it is pronounced with B. In English it is pronounced /bɒm/ (UK).
The police found a bomb in the defendant’s suitcase.
General English: other examples
- Climb UK /klaɪm/
- Lamb UK /læm/
- Thumb UK /θʌm/
- Subtle UK /ˈsʌt.əl/
She decided to move to the charity sector as she did not want to climb the corporate ladder.
Ann really liked ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ and the prison scene.
