The pronunciation of the word “salmon” is a source of debate among English speakers. While the word is spelled with an L, many pronounce it without the L sound, saying “sammon” instead of “salmon.” So is the L silent or not? Let’s take a deeper look at the history and usage of this word.
A Brief History
The word “salmon” comes from the Latin word salmo. When the word entered English in the 14th century via Anglo-French, the L was pronounced. However, by the 16th century, under influence from the French pronunciation saumon, the L became silent in English.
So for centuries, standard English has pronounced the word without the L. But things changed again during the Renaissance in the 16th-17th centuries. Scholars wanted English to reflect its Latin roots so many silent letters were restored. The L was reinserted into the spelling, which has led to variant pronunciations today.
The Pronunciation Debate
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the standard pronunciation in both British and American English today is “sammon,” without sounding the L.
However, the influence of the restored L in the spelling has led some speakers to pronounce it “salmon.” This reflects the original Latin pronunciation and is not technically incorrect, though not yet considered standard.
In fact, there are some cases where pronouncing the L is preferred:
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In the scientific name for salmon which is Salmo salar. The genus name Salmo derives from the Latin salmo.
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In the disease name salmonella. Pronouncing the L links it to the animal name.
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When reciting poetry or emphasize clear diction. The L can add gravitas in formal speech.
Other Examples
Silent L’s imported from French that were later sounded in English include words like falcon (fawlcon), calm (cahlm), and palm (pahlm). This parallels the story of salmon.
So in cases like these, the debate continues between retaining the silent letter reflecting French influence or pronouncing the letter to reflect Latin origins. English spelling and pronunciation continues to evolve.
While standard English favors “sammon,” the pronunciation of “salmon” is gaining ground. The silent L reflects its French origins, while sounding the L echoes its Latin roots. Ultimately, English usage is determined by everyday speakers, so both pronunciations will likely persist.
The pronunciation of “salmon” showcases how spelling, pronunciation, and language history intersect in English. So don’t be “salmmoned” about which version you prefer – as long as you can communicate clearly, either way of saying it will be understood.
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Why does Salmon have a silent L?
FAQ
Is the L in salmon supposed to be silent?
The
Is it salmon or samon?
What is the silent word in salmon?
Silent L – Salmon (Fish)
Why is there a silent l in salmon?
The word “salmon” originated from the Latin word “salmo,” which later evolved into Old French as “saumon.” In Old English, it was called “salmun.” However, somewhere along the way, the pronunciation of this word shifted. One possible explanation for the silent “L” in salmon may be due to linguistic influences.
How do you pronounce the L in salmon?
In Latin, the word for fish is salmo, and the L is pronounced. Even though the English word spelling changed from samoun to salmon, the pronunciation stayed the same, making the L silent. We are allowed to pronounce the L in Salmonella but are not supposed to pronounce the L in the fish, salmon. Who put the L in salmon?
Who put the L in salmon?
The “L” in salmon is historically silent because the word was borrowed directly from the French word “sauman” (even though the L is present in the original Latin word “salmōn”) Salmonella was named after Dr. Daniel E. Salmon, who did pronounce the L in his name.
Why does the word ‘salmon’ have a l sound?
This change could be due to the French influence on the English language, as well as the evolution of language over time. Some people argue that because the word “salmon” has a history of including the “l” sound, it should be pronounced that way.
Why do people say ‘l’ instead of ‘salmon’?
Even though the silent “L” is common, some argue that it should be pronounced to honor the word’s Latin roots. They believe dismissing the “L” disrespects the linguistic history of “salmon”. Others say that this way of pronouncing the word comes from regional dialects that keep the “L” sound or from personal preference.
Why is the L a silent l?
Italian (salmone), Spanish (salmon), and French (saumon) all pronounce their versions without sounding the L. So in the end, the silent L stems from evolutionary phonetic changes as “salmon” passed through different languages on its way into English! The pronunciation “samon” reflects the path it took and its transformation over time.