Silent vowels

The most well-known Silent Vowel is the U in ~です(desu) pronounced as DES.
You might have heard more of these kinds of missing vowels in the conversations, so let’s see how they work!
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*** The rule changes depending on the dialects. This post introduces the most common one spoken mainly in the Kanto region (around Tokyo).
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Basically, those vowels that become silent are “I” and “U” with particular consonants -

KI and KU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P.
聞く(k(i) kù): to listen to, ask
臭い(k(u)sà i): smelly
汚い(k(i)tànà i): dirty
基本(k(i) hòń): basic, standard
楽譜(gak(u) fù): music sheet
ミルクパイ(mirùk(ù) pai): Milk Cream Pie

SHI and SU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P.
スキー(s(u)kìi): skiing
悲しさ (kanà sh(ì)sa): sadness
シチュー(sh(i)chùu): stew
明日(ash(ì)tà): tomorrow
支払い(sh(i) hàrà ì): payment
スプレー(s(u)pùree): spray

JI and ZU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P.
政治家(seì j(ì) kà): politician
静か(shìz(u) ka): quiet, calm
相槌(aì z(ù)chì): short responses in conversations
元日(gań j(ì)tsù): the first day of a year
味ぽん(aj(ì) pòń): Ajipon the Ponzu sauce

CHI and TSU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P.
近い (ch(i)kà i): close, near
月(ts(u)kì): moon, month
錬金術師(reń kìń jùts(u) shi): alchemist
土(ts(u)chì): soil
地方(ch(i) hòu): countryside

HI and FU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P.
深い(f(u)kà i): deep
不思議(f(u) shì gì): mysterious, strange
必要(h(i)tsù yòù): necessary
ひとつ(h(i)tòtsu): one (thing)
不評(f(u)hyòù): bad reputation

PI and PU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P.
ピカイチ(p(i)kàichi): most talented
ピシッと(p(i)shìtto): neat and clean (in behaviour)
ピチピチ(p(i)chìpìchì): fresh (of fish, skin etc), very tight (in size)
ヘリコプター(herìkòp(u)taa): helicopter

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Also when a word/ sentence ends with き(ki)・く(ku)・し(shi)・す(su)・つ(tsu) and doesn't have an accent.
E.g.
渋谷駅(shibùyà ek(i)): Shibuya Station
悪(àk(u)): evil, badness
お菓子(okàsh(i)): snacks, sweets
食べます(tabèmàs(u)): to eat (I’m polite form)
立つ(tàts(u)): to stand up

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Of course there are some word with consecutive silent-able consonants like below. Then you can make either the first or second vowel silent. Both sound natural.

スクショ (s(u)kusho/ suk(u)sho)
しつこい (sh(i)tsukoi/ shits(u)koi)
つくし (ts(u)kùshì/ tsuk(ù)shì)

Also I feel like FU is most likely to be silent.
シフト(shif(ù)tò): shift
至福(shif(ù)kù): bliss

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FAQ
Q. Do Japanese not understand when I forget making those vowels silent?
— Don’t worry, we do understand even when you pronounce every single word as written. We actually pronounce all the vowels when we want an emphasis or accent.
E.g.
開く(akù): to open
足(ashì): foot, leg

Q. Why are some characters not pronounced?
— Just because it’s easier to pronounce (as a Japanese)! However, the most Japanese never notice the rules of silent vowels since it’s just natural to say.
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Hope you enjoyed reading!
Please do not think too much about these rules when speaking! But it might still help you understand native Japanese speaking fast.

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