What words have a silent i?

Answer 1

A silent I occurs in vowel pairs in these words:

• In AI words-- bail, pail, tail, lain, pain, bait, aileron, maize
• In EI and IE words -- deceive, believe, receive, retrieve
• In IO words -- fashion, cushion
• In UI words -- juice, sluice, suit

As with the E-ON (UN) of fashion, the I is also technically silent in -TION words, where it gives the T an SH sound.

Examples: action, ignition, definition

A rare "true" silent I is seen in the word "business". In most, if not all, dialects, the I is simply ignored.

Answer 2

halfpenny