How to pronounce calve
Say it like KAV. Calve 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 calve. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Calve pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of calve
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: KAHV.
What does calve mean?
- To give birth to a calf.“The farmer could tell Bessie was about to calve.”
- To assist in a cow’s giving birth to a calf.“The farmer calved Bessie for almost two hours.”
- To give birth to (a calf).
Where does calve come from?
From Middle English calven, from Old English *calfian, cealfian, from Proto-West Germanic *kalbōn, from Proto-Germanic *kalbōną (“to calve”), from *kalbaz (“calf”).
Words that rhyme with calve
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of calve.
Questions about saying calve
How do you pronounce calve?
Say KAV. The American pronunciation is /kæv/. In British English it is /kɑːv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in calve?
Calve is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KAV.
Is calve pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat. The British form is /kɑːv/ (KAHV).