How to pronounce cavern
Say it like KAV-ern. Cavern has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cavern. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAV
- ern
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cavern 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.
- ernKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of cavern
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KAV-un.
What does cavern mean?
- A large cave.
- An underground chamber.
- A large, dark place or space.“a dark cavern of a shop”
- To form a cavern or deep depression in.“catacombs caverning the hillsides”
- To put into a cavern.
Where does cavern come from?
From Middle English caverne, borrowing from Old French caverne, from Latin caverna (“hollow, cavity, cave”), from cavus (“hollow, excavated, concave”).
Words that rhyme with cavern
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cavern.
Questions about saying cavern
How do you pronounce cavern?
Say KAV-ern. The American pronunciation is /ˈkævɚn/. In British English it is /ˈkævən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cavern?
Cavern has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAV). Broken into parts: KAV · ern.
Is cavern pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈkævən/ (KAV-un).