In high the 'gh' is completely silent; the word is just /haɪ/, rhyming with 'my'. The 'gh' is a historical spelling that no longer represents any sound in this word. Do not pronounce it as /g/ ('hig') or /f/. The same silent 'gh' appears in 'high availability', 'right', 'light', and 'through'. Note that 'gh' is sometimes /f/ in other words like 'rough' and 'enough', but after a vowel like in 'high' it is silent. Just say the vowel and stop.
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Which letters are silent in "weight" /weɪt/?
In weight the 'gh' is silent, leaving /weɪt/, which sounds exactly like 'wait'. The vowel is the /eɪ/ diphthong as in 'day'. The 'w' and 't' are both pronounced; only the 'gh' disappears. This is the same silent 'gh' as in 'eight', 'freight', and 'neighbour'. In machine learning you talk about 'weights' constantly, so make sure it sounds like 'waits' and never like 'weegt'. Glide the vowel and skip straight from the diphthong to the final 't'.
3 / 5
How is the "b" pronounced in "thumb"?
The 'b' in thumb is silent; the word is /θʌm/, ending in the /m/ sound with no /b/ at all. The word also begins with the voiceless 'th' /θ/. This silent 'b' after 'm' is a common English pattern, seen in 'thumb', 'numb', 'comb', and 'bomb'. In UI work you discuss 'thumbnails', so keep the 'b' silent: 'THUM-nail'. Close your lips for the /m/ and stop; do not add a popped /b/ sound at the end.
4 / 5
Which letter is silent in "climb" /klaɪm/?
In climb the final 'b' is silent, giving /klaɪm/, which rhymes with 'time'. The vowel is the /aɪ/ diphthong, and the word ends on /m/ with no /b/ release. This follows the same '-mb' rule as 'thumb', 'lamb', and 'limb'. You might say a metric 'climbs' on a dashboard, so keep it clean: 'klimes', never 'klimb-buh'. Close the lips for the /m/ to finish the word and resist the urge to pronounce the written 'b'.
5 / 5
What is the rule illustrated by "thumb", "climb", and "dumb"?
These words show that a final 'b' after 'm' is silent. In 'thumb' /θʌm/, 'climb' /klaɪm/, and 'dumb' /dʌm/, the lips close for the /m/ and the word ends there, with no /b/ heard. The 'mb' cluster always reduces to just /m/ at the end of a word. This reliable rule also covers 'crumb', 'numb', 'bomb', and 'tomb'. Knowing the pattern means you never have to guess: see word-final '-mb' and drop the 'b' every time.