How to pronounce cavaquinho
Say it like kav-a-KEE-nyoo. Cavaquinho has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cavaquinho. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kav
- a
- KEE
- nyoo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cavaquinho pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kavKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- aKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- KEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- nyooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of cavaquinho
American and British speakers say cavaquinho in essentially the same way: /kævæˈkinju/ in the US and /kævæˈkiːnjuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: kav-a-KEE-nyoo.
What does cavaquinho mean?
- A small guitar-string instrument of Portuguese origin, with four wire or gut strings, played with a plectrum.
Where does cavaquinho come from?
Borrowed from Portuguese cavaquinho, from the diminutive of cavaco (“fragment of wood”).
Questions about saying cavaquinho
How do you pronounce cavaquinho?
Say kav-a-KEE-nyoo. The American pronunciation is /kævæˈkinju/. In British English it is /kævæˈkiːnjuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cavaquinho?
Cavaquinho has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KEE). Broken into parts: kav · a · KEE · nyoo.
Do Americans and Brits say cavaquinho the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kævæˈkinju/ and the British form is /kævæˈkiːnjuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.