Why is There a Silent ‘C’ in ‘Scent’?

Scent is a word that we use commonly in our daily lives. It is a word that is used to describe a particular smell or fragrance. However, thee are some confusions regarding the pronunciation of this word. Some people believe that the letter C in scent is silent, while others believe that the letter S is silent. In this article, we will discuss the correct pronunciation of scent and the reason behind it.

Firstly, it is important to know that the letter C in scent is not silent. The correct pronunciation of scent is with a hard C sound, like “skent”. The reason for this is that the word scent is derived from the Old French word “sentir”, which means “to smell”. The letter C in the Old French language was pronounced as a hard C, and this pronunciation was carried over to the English language when the word was adopted into it.

It is also important to note that the letter C is not always pronounced in the same way in English. When the letter C is followed by the letters E, I, or Y, it is pronounced as an S sound, as in the words cent, city, and cycle. However, when the letter C is followed by the letters A, O, U, or a consonant, it is pronounced as a hard C sound, as in the words car, coat, cut, and crust.

The correct pronunciation of the word scent is “skent”, with a hard C sound. This is because the word is derived from the Old French word “sentir”, which was pronounced with a hard C. It is important to remember that the letter C is not always pronounced in the same way in English, and its pronunciation depends on the letters that follow it.

Is The A Or C Silent In Scent?

The letter C is silent in the English word scent. The word scent was borrowed from the Anglo-Norman and Middle French word sente, which is why the C is present at all. The scholars who introduced the word into English wanted to maintain its original spelling, including the letter C, despite it being silent. Therefore, when pronouncing the word scent, the C is not pronounced, and the word is pronounced as “sent.”

is the s or c silent in scent

Is The S In Scent Silent Or Is The C In Scent Silent?

The word “scent” is pronounced as /sent/. The “s” and “c” are not silent in the word “scent”. In fact, they form a consonant digraph, which represents a distinct sound. The “sc” digraph in “scent” is pronounced as /s/, a single sound that is different from the individual sounds of “s” and “c”. Therefore, the “s” and “c” in “scent” are not silent, but rather, they work together to create the unique sound of the word.

Is The S Or C Silent In Scissors?

The letter C is silent in the word “scissors.” The combination of SC usually produces a sound that is similar to “sk,” as in the word “ascend.” However, in the case of “scissors,” the C is silent and the word is pronounced as “sizzers.” It is important to note that the silent letter C is not unique to the word “scissors” and can also be found in other words such as “muscle” and “fascinate.”

Conclusion

The word “scent” has been borrowed from the Anglo-Norman and Middle French word “sente.” The letter “C” in “scent” is silent because it is part of the consonant digraph “sc.” The use of the letter “C” in this context can be attributed to the need for orderliness among scholars who borrowed the word from other languages. It is important to note that “C” is not always silent, and it is used as a consonant digraph in other English words such as “science.” understanding the silent letters in English words can be helpful in improving one’s pronunciation and spelling.

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William Armstrong

William Armstrong is a senior editor with H-O-M-E.org, where he writes on a wide variety of topics. He has also worked as a radio reporter and holds a degree from Moody College of Communication. William was born in Denton, TX and currently resides in Austin.