Strange Spelling and Pronunciation Items - Page 4
gn Words using GN have varied set of pronunciation rules
  1. Some words beginning with GN such as gnat, gnaw, gnarl, gnome the G is silent.
  2. In words with IGN not at the beginning of the word such as champaign, and Campaign, sign, arraign, deign, ensign, feign, foreign, reign, align and others the G is silent.
  3. In words with IGN at the beginning of the word such as ignite, ignition, ignoble, ignore and others the G in GN is the end if the first syllable and the N in GN is the beginning of the next syllable.
  4. In words with UGN such as impugn, oppugn and others the G is silent while others such a repugnant the G is the end of a syllable and the N the beginning of the next syllable.
  5. In words with OGN such as cologne and others the G is silent while others such as recognize the G is the end of a syllable and the N the beginning of the next syllable.
  6. In words with EGN such as pregnant, impregnable, the G in GN is end of one syllable and the N in GN the beginning of the next syllable.
  7. In words with AGN such as magnet, magnolia, magnificent, magnify, diagnose, and stagnant, the G in GN is end of one syllable and the N in GN the beginning of the next syllable.
Words Ending in AMB, IMB, OMB, and UMB In all of these words the B is silent.
  1. These words include: lamb, jamb, climb, limb, bomb, comb, entomb, tomb, womb, crumb, dumb, plumb, numb, rhumb, thumb, succumb.
  2. Also many of these that also add ER to the end such as dumber, the B is also silent.
  3. However some exceptions to rule 2 above are limber and number where the B is not silent.