How to pronounce cave
Say it like KAYV. Cave is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- KAYV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cave pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAYVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of cave
American and British speakers say cave in essentially the same way: /keɪv/ in the US and /keɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAYV.
What does cave mean?
- A large, naturally-occurring cavity formed underground or in the face of a cliff or a hillside.“We found a cave on the mountainside where we could take shelter.”
- A hole, depression, or gap in earth or rock, whether natural or man-made.
- A storage cellar, especially for wine or cheese.“This wine has been aged in our cave for thirty years.”
- To surrender.“He caved under pressure.”
- To collapse.“First the braces buckled, then the roof began to cave, then we ran.”
- To hollow out or undermine.“The levee has been severely caved by the river current.”
- look out!; beware!
Where does cave come from?
From Middle English cave, borrowed from Old French cave, from Latin cava (“cavity”), from cavus (“hollow”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with cave
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cave.
Questions about saying cave
How do you pronounce cave?
Say KAYV. The American pronunciation is /keɪv/. In British English it is /keɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cave?
Cave is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KAYV.
Do Americans and Brits say cave the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /keɪv/ and the British form is /keɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.