The Silent “e”

The "silent e" is a common phonics rule that helps young readers understand how certain words are pronounced. When an "e" appears at the end of a word and is preceded by a consonant and a single vowel (CVCe pattern), the silent e changes the pronunciation of the preceding vowel, making it say its name (a long vowel sound).

For example, in the word "cake," the silent e makes the "a" long, so it sounds like /keɪk/ instead of /kæk/. The silent e itself is not pronounced, but it plays a crucial role in altering the vowel sound before it, transforming words like "cap" to "cape" and "kit" to "kite." Understanding this rule helps children decode many words and enhances their reading skills.