A Mute Letter Is One You Do Not Say
Mute means silent or unable to speak. It also names a device that softens an instrument.
Mute means silent, unable or unwilling to speak; as a noun it is a device that damps the sound of a musical instrument. English is full of *mute* letters that were once pronounced: the k in *knight*, the g in *gnaw*, the l in *walk*, the w in *write*. The spellings froze in the fifteenth century while the pronunciations kept moving, which is why the silent letters mark real history rather than mere awkwardness. The word comes from Latin *mutus*, silent.
- Silent. *A mute appeal.*
- Unable to speak. *Struck mute.*
- To silence. *Mute the sound.*
- An instrument damper. *A trumpet mute.*
- Latin — *mutus*. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | mute | Mute. |
| Verb | mute | Muting. |
| Noun | mute | A mute. |
| Adjective | muted | Muted. |
| Latin | mutus | Silent. |
- He stood mute.Silent.
- Mute the television.Verb.
- The k in knight is mute.Spelling.
Silent letters that were once spoken
- Knight, knee, knife — the k was pronounced
- Gnaw, gnat — so was the g
- Walk, half, talk — the l was sounded
- Write, wrong — the w began the word
- Printing froze the spellings while speech moved on
Latin *mutus*, silent or dumb, through Old French *muet*.
Why does English have silent letters?
Because spellings were fixed in print while pronunciation kept changing. The letters record how words once sounded.
What is a mute on an instrument?
A device fitted to damp and colour the sound, common on brass instruments and stringed ones alike.