How to pronounce brave
Say it like BRAYV. Brave is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce brave. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BRAYV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Brave pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BRAYVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of brave
American and British speakers say brave in essentially the same way: /breɪv/ in the US and /breɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: BRAYV.
What does brave mean?
- possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching“Familiarity with danger makes a brave man braver but less daring”“a frank courageous heart...triumphed over pain”
- invulnerable to fear or intimidation“audacious explorers”“fearless reporters and photographers”
- brightly colored and showy“girls decked out in brave new dresses”“brave banners flying”
- face and withstand with courage“She braved the elements”
- a North American Indian warrior
- people who are brave“the home of the free and the brave”
Where does brave come from?
From Middle French brave, borrowed from Italian bravo, itself of uncertain origin (see there).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with brave
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of brave.
Questions about saying brave
How do you pronounce brave?
Say BRAYV. The American pronunciation is /breɪv/. In British English it is /breɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in brave?
Brave is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BRAYV.
Do Americans and Brits say brave the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /breɪv/ and the British form is /breɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.