Sound Right

/m/ — the M sound as in my, make, some

Main spellings (~100%)

⟨m⟩ ~100%

The letter ⟨m⟩ covers virtually all words with the /m/ sound.

my make more most come some time name family number
Doubled consonants: When ⟨mm⟩ appears in the middle of a word, it still makes just one /m/ sound. Examples: common, summer, hammer.

Unusual spellings (<1%)

⟨mb⟩

The ⟨b⟩ is silent after ⟨m⟩ at the end of a word or before a consonant.

climb bomb lamb thumb dumb limb comb numb
Silent B: In words ending in ⟨mb⟩, the ⟨b⟩ is always silent: climb, bomb, lamb, thumb, dumb, limb, comb, numb. The ⟨b⟩ shows up in spelling because of historical pronunciation.

⟨mn⟩

The ⟨n⟩ is silent in some words with ⟨mn⟩ at the end.

autumn column hymn condemn solemn
Silent N: In words ending in ⟨mn⟩, the ⟨n⟩ is typically silent: autumn, column, hymn, condemn, solemn. But the ⟨n⟩ is pronounced in related words: autumnal, columnist, hymnal.

/m/ vs /n/

M vs N: Both are nasal sounds, but /m/ is made with the lips together (bilabial) and /n/ is made with the tongue touching the ridge behind the teeth (alveolar). Compare: some vs sun, swim vs twin.