aphthong

aph·thong
A1P3H4T1H4O1N1G2

noun

A letter or combination of letters employed in spelling a word but not pronounced; a silent letter or polygraph

“The letters "gh" in "knight" are an aphthong.”

OriginAncient Greek ἄφθογγος →
Scrabble 17
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Meanings

nounaphthong (plural aphthongs)

plural aphthongs

  1. archaichuman sciencesA letter or combination of letters employed in spelling a word but not pronounced; a silent letter or polygraph

    The letters "gh" in "knight" are an aphthong.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἄφθογγος
  2. Englishaphthong

From Ancient Greek ἄφθογγος (áphthongos). Compare diphthong.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

aphthong. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aphthong

MLA

“aphthong.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aphthong. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “aphthong,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aphthong.

Source: aphthong on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.