The sounds of K
The letter K is an aspirant, the same as a hard C. Some words may be spelled with either a C or a K. Note that there is a difference in meaning between the words, karat, carat, and caret. The words disk and disc are also used for different things.
kaftan, caftan
kaboodle, caboodle
kalamata, calamata (olives)
kerb [British], curb [N. American]
ketchup, catsup [US]
King Knut, King Canute
skeptic, sceptic
disk, disc
CK letter combination
In some words, a K is combined with a C to indicate a hard C, where the adjacent vowels might make a soft C.
brick, bricked
fleck, flecked
Silent Ks
At the beginnings of words, K is silent before an N.
These Ks were pronounced in Old English, in the times of Chaucer and still sometimes in the times of Shakespeare. The change came sometime in the 16th and 17th centuries, because it was easier to say the words without the K.
knack
knapsack
knead
knee, kneel
knick-knack
knife
knit
knob
knock, knocker
knot
know, knowledge
In German, Swedish, and Dutch, similar words have kept the K sound. Some foreign names also keep the K sound.
Knesset [Israeli parliament]
Knossos [Minoan Crete city]
Double Ks
Double Ks are unusual in English.
bookkeeper
Unusual K words
daikon
eke
feckless
haiku
mukluk
polka
mucky muck
plankton
Exercises
- In a book, newspaper, or webpage, pick out words beginning with K. How do pronounce them?
- Make up your own sentence with a lot of Ks. Is it a true alliteration?
- Look up the “Unusual K Words” to find their meanings.
Special reading assignments
The knave was keen to kiss the knuckles of the king and to kick the knees of the knights.
