As an avid home cook and lover of seafood, I’ve always been curious about why the word “salmon” is pronounced “samon” in English. With a silent L in the spelling, the pronunciation seems counterintuitive. Where did this irregularity come from? I decided to do some digging into the linguistic history of “salmon” to unravel the mystery of its silent L. Here’s what I discovered about the origins and evolution of this tasty fish’s name.
A Latin Root
Like many English words, “salmon” has its origins in Latin. The Latin word for the fish was “salmo”, coming from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to leap”. This neatly described the swimming behavior of salmon. In Latin, “salmo” was pronounced with a clear L sound due to the double L in the middle of the word.
Losing the L in French
When the Latin name for salmon was adopted into Old French the L sound began to fade. In Old French it was spelled “saumon”, indicating the L was now silent. The French pronunciation went on to influence the English spelling that emerged later.
Norman French Brings It to English
English acquired the word “salmon” in the 12th century via the Norman French who ruled England after the Norman conquest. The Normans introduced many food words into English, salmon being one of them. Since the French no longer sounded the L, neither did the English speakers who took on the word.
Reinstating the L
During the Renaissance there was a revival of interest in restoring Latinate spellings to English words. Scholars reverted “salmon” back to the Latin “salmo” spelling reinstating the silent L. This reflected the prestige and desire for pure Latin forms at the time.
Standardized in Modern English
By the 17th century, the “salmon” spelling had become standardized in English, though the L remained silent in pronunciation. This continues to be the norm in modern English, where “salmon” is predominantly pronounced “samon” despite its restored L.
Regional Variations Persist
While the silent L is standard, some exceptions have emerged. The related word “salmonella” is pronounced with the L sounded out. Additionally, certain regional accents may subtly pronounce the L in “salmon”. But the dominant pronunciation found in dictionaries is “samon”.
Shared By Other Languages Too
Many languages adopted “salmon” from the same French roots, leading to similar pronunciations. Italian (salmone), Spanish (salmon), and French (saumon) all lack an audible L sound.
In the end, the silent L in “salmon” reflects the phonetic changes it went through as it passed from Latin through French on its way into English! The “samon” pronunciation bears the imprint of this linguistic evolution over time. So next time you enjoy some delicious salmon, you can appreciate the long history behind its name.
Articles Related to salmon
“Salmon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salmon. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
Examples of salmon in a Sentence
Middle English samon, from Anglo-French salmon, samon, from Latin salmon-, salmo First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Time Traveler
Why does Salmon have a silent L?
FAQ
Why do people call salmon Samon?
The Modern English term salmon is derived from Middle English: samoun, samon and saumon, which in turn are from Anglo-Norman: saumon, from Old French: saumon, and from Latin: salmō (which in turn might have originated from salire, meaning “to leap”.).
Why don’t we say the L in salmon?
It’s about the word “salmon,” why it has a silent L, and why “falcon” has a not-silent one. It’s the same story, plus a bit of historical accident. The word “salmon” comes from a 13th-century word “samoun,” which, you’ll note, doesn’t have the letter “L” in it.
Is salmon pronounced samon or salmon reddit?
It seems the standard pronunciation of salmon in English is “SAM-uhn” (/’sæmən/), where the l is silent.
How do you pronounce salmon in English?
To pronounce “salmon” correctly in U.S. English, say the name “Sam” and then add “mon” — as in the first syllable of the word “money.” In these words, the B is silent. (Yes, silent letters in English are a real pain!) The “schwa” sound is the most common one in the English language. It’s also the most mispronounced sound!
Should ‘salmon’ be pronounced l or L?
Some people argue that because the word “salmon” has a history of including the “l” sound, it should be pronounced that way. They believe that sticking to the original pronunciation honors the word’s linguistic roots and adds a sense of authenticity to the language.
Why is there a debate about the pronunciation of salmon?
The pronunciation of “salmon” generates debate due to the varying regional, historical, and linguistic influences that have shaped the word’s pronunciation over time. This debate reflects the richness and diversity of language itself. What is considered non perishable food?