Is the ‘H’ Silent in Herbicide?

The answer to this question is yes, the ‘h’ in herbicide is silent. This is because the word is derived from the Greek words “herbos” (meaning “herb”) and “cide” (meaning “killer”). In Greek, the ‘h’ in “herbos” is not pronounced, and this pronunciation has been carried over into English.

Pronunciation Guide

• **Correct pronunciation:** /ˈhɜːrbɪsaɪd/ (without pronouncing the ‘h’)
• **Incorrect pronunciation:** /hɜːrbɪsaɪd/ (with the ‘h’ pronounced)

Why is the ‘H’ Silent?

The ‘h’ in herbicide is silent because of a phenomenon known as “aspiration.” This occurs when a voiceless consonant (such as ‘h’) is followed by a vowel. In such cases, the consonant is often not pronounced, or it is pronounced very softly.

Other Words with Silent ‘H’

Herbicide is not the only word with a silent ‘h.’ Other examples include:

• Hour
• Honor
• Honest
• Heir

Conclusion

So, to answer the original question, yes, the ‘h’ in herbicide is silent. This is due to the word’s Greek origins and the phenomenon of aspiration in English pronunciation.

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