Does the word donkey have a silent e?

Answer 1

No, the 'e' sound in the word the is not silent. It is normally pronounced as the indeterminate vowel sound known as the schwa. When it occurs before a vowel sound it is pronounced with a long 'e'.

A silent 'e' is not pronounced at all. For example, the 'e' at the end of the word blame is silent: the last phoneme in the word is the 'm'. The 'e' in the could never be silent, as it is the only vowel in the word.

Answer 2

Yes. The "e" is silent in both "lone", the root, and "lonely". The "e" is silent, but it makes the "o" long.

Answer 3

No, the e in donkey is not silent.