Why is the L Silent in Salmon? Unpacking the Mysterious History Behind This Fishy Word

Salmon is one of those English words that often leaves people scratching their heads. Despite being clearly spelled with an L, most of us pronounce it as “samon.” Where did this silent L come from, and why has it stuck around in the spelling despite being mute in speech? Let’s dive into the linguistic history behind the word salmon to unravel the mystery of its silent L.

A Latin Root

Like many words in English, salmon originated from a Latin source. The Latin word was salmo, derived from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to leap.” This aptly described the swimming behavior of salmon. In its original Latin form, salmo was pronounced with a clear L sound due to the double L in the middle.

Losing the L in Old French

When the Latin salmo made its way into Old French, the L sound began to erode. In Old French it was spelled saumon, telling us the L was now silent. The French pronunciation went on to influence the spelling used in English.

Imported via Norman French

English acquired salmon in the 12th century through the Norman French who ruled England after the Norman Conquest. The Norman French introduced many food words into English, salmon being one of them. Since the French no longer pronounced the L, neither did the English speakers who adopted the word.

Renaissance Reinstatement

During the Renaissance, interest revived in restoring Latinate spellings to English words. Scholars reverted salmon back to the Latin salmo, reinstating the silent L. This reflected the prestige and desirability of pure Latin forms at the time.

Standardized in Modern English

By the 17th century, the salmon spelling had become standardized in English. Yet the L remained silent in pronunciation, which is still true today.

Exceptions and Regional Variations

While standard English keeps the L silent in salmon some exceptions have emerged over time

• The related word salmonella is pronounced with the L sounded out.

• Certain regional accents may subtly pronounce the L in salmon

Still, the dominant pronunciation given in dictionaries is “samon.”

Shared by Other Languages Too

Many languages adopted salmon from the same French roots, leading to similar pronunciations. In Italian (salmone), Spanish (salmon), and French (saumon), the word is said without the L sound.