silent e

Core Rule

Silent final e means the ending letter e is usually not pronounced but signals a long vowel in the preceding syllable, commonly in a CVCe pattern.

Articulation Guide

Do not release sound on final e. Shape the mouth for a long vowel; airflow finishes on the final consonant.

Examples

• lease: ea = long /iː/; final e is silent.
• mule: u becomes long /juː/ or /uː*; e marks length.

Pitfalls

Not every word ending in -e follows this rule (e.g., have). Check spelling patterns.