climb (why /ai/ not /i/)

Maria DCould you help me, please, with the rules of pronunciation? Why should we read the word "climb" with /ai/ not /i/

It's not a rule, it's an instance—as is much of English pronunciation.

climb
limb

Maria DWhy should we read the word "climb" with /ai/ not /i/, like the word "cling"? Isn't it a closed syllable?

It is an exception to the rule. Words ending in -mb have irregular pronunciations. Note that the noun "limb" has a short /i/.

Climb used to be a strong verb: climban, clamb, clumben / clumbe.
The past form gives us the verb "cla

Maria Drules of pronunciation

1. The "b" in final "mb" is silent. lamb, dumb, bomb, plumb, numb, crumb

The vowel is pronounced in an unexpected way in these: climb, comb, womb, tomb

2. The "b" remains silent even when another syllable such as "ing" or "er" is added. combing climber, climbing, plumber, bombing

N

Thank you, Jim!

But you must have misunderstood me. I asked about the diphthong /ai/ in the word "climb". I meant why cl/ai/mb, not cl/i/mb. But anyway, thank you!

Ah why indeed. We believe it is a way of making life difficult for learners...

"If English was logical it would be German" (apologies to my German friends).

German is not THAT logical as it is believed to be ))))

Maria DGerman is not THAT logical as it is believed to be ))))

I don't think any language is logical. How could anything developed by a millions of people over hundreds of years, and with no central planning, be logical?

Considering that among those millions of people were also women

...who probably did most of the talking...