It's a common misconception that words like "bread" have a silent "k" because of their connection to other words like "knead" and "knife" which do. However, the "k" sound in those words is actually part of their original Germanic root.
The word "bread" has its origins in Old English "brēad", which is thought to be related to a Proto-Germanic root "brauđą". This root, while ultimately related to "knead" and "knife", developed independently in "bread" and lost the "k" sound over time.
So, while "bread" may have a historical link to words with "k" sounds, it doesn't actually have a silent "k" in its modern spelling or pronunciation.