2006-10-22 15:32:56 · 6 answers · asked by bonbon 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
In the old days (when Old English was being used), they did pronoune the K in words like "knight", "know" and "knee". Over the years the K was dropped in the pronounciation.
In other germanic languages this sound is still there, for example in Dutch (my own native language). Our word for "knee" is "knie", and we do pronounce the K.
2006-10-23 00:18:27 · answer #1 · answered by Judith 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The K became silent as time goes by. As the word ages pronunciation can change.
2006-10-23 06:42:00 · answer #2 · answered by lanisoderberg69 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it comes from Norman. Like Knight and Knee, at one point the "k" was NOT silent:
pronounced "Kuh-nife"
2006-10-22 15:34:58 · answer #3 · answered by Mac Momma 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You have to ask the person(s) who invented this word.
2006-10-22 17:28:09 · answer #4 · answered by Martin I 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
The B is also silent.
2006-10-22 15:39:37 · answer #5 · answered by canadastani 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I have no idea.
2006-10-22 15:35:08 · answer #6 · answered by hopeless 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋