Here's a breakdown of why it's confusing:
* "Silent" isn't always accurate: The "t" is still there, it just doesn't create a distinct /t/ sound. It can influence the sound of the vowel before it or get absorbed into a blend with other consonants.
* It's context dependent: The presence or absence of a /t/ sound depends on the surrounding letters and word position.
Here are some examples where the "t" is typically silent:
* Before "n": "Often," "listen," "Christmas," "castle"
* Before "ch": "Catch," "watch," "stitch," "match"
* Before "s": "Whistle," "castle," "hasten," "glisten"
* In some words: "Wright," "debt," "subtle," "pneumonia"
It's important to note: These rules aren't absolute. There are exceptions, and sometimes the pronunciation can vary depending on regional accents or informal speech.
Let me know if you have any other questions about English pronunciation!