What Is the Silent Letter in the Word Silhouette?

Silhouettes are an interesting but often mysterious form of artwork. The art form originated in the 18th century and was used to create a profile of a person or object.

The Silhouette is created by cutting out the shape of a person or object from black paper or card and placing it against a light background. It is the absence of color that makes the Silhouette so distinctive and captivating.

What Is the Silent Letter in the Word Silhouette?

The word “silhouette” has its roots in 18th century French, and is derived from the name Étienne de Silhouette, a finance minister during King Louis XV’s reign. Étienne de Silhouette was known for his frugal tastes, which he applied to government spending, relying more on cuts than increased taxes to balance the budget. As such, he was associated with simple black outlines on white paper, which became known as Silhouettes.

The word Silhouette contains one silent letter – the “e” at the end of “silhouett”. This silent letter is essential for pronouncing the word correctly but also serves to make it easier to spell. Without it, one might mistakenly spell it as “silhoutte”.

Conclusion:

The silent letter in the word Silhouette is an essential part of its pronunciation and spelling. It is derived from Étienne de Silhouette, who was known for his frugal tastes and black outlines on white paper that became known as Silhouettes during his time as finance minister in France during King Louis XV’s reign.