Silent W | Sound Right

⟨wr⟩ — silent W before R

A common pattern at the start of words. The ⟨w⟩ used to be pronounced in Old English but became silent over time.

Two ways to see this: You can think of ⟨wr⟩ as a silent ⟨w⟩, or as an unusual spelling of /r/ — see the R sound page. Both are valid.

wrap wreck wrench wrest wrestle wriggle wring wrinkle write wrong wrote

handwriting handwritten overwrite overwritten rewrite rewriting rewritten rewrote unwritten write writhe writhing writing writ written wrote

wrangle wrangler wrangling wrest wrestle wrestler wrestling

wrongdoer wrongdoing wrongful wrought overwrought

shipwreck wreak wreckage wretch

awry unwrap wrack wrath wreath wren wrist wristwatch wrung wry

cartwright playwright shipwright wainwright wheelwright wright

lowrie wray wrigley wroclaw

In a small group of words, the ⟨w⟩ is silent and only the ⟨h⟩ is pronounced.

Two ways to see this: You can think of ⟨wh⟩ as a silent ⟨w⟩, or as an unusual spelling of /h/ — see the H sound page. Both are valid.

who whoever whole whom whose

wholehearted wholesale wholesaler wholesome wholly

whodunit whomever whomsoever whore whorehouse whosoever