How to pronounce cleaves
Say it like KLEEVZ. Cleaves 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 cleaves. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KLEEVZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cleaves pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KLEEVZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of cleaves
American and British speakers say cleaves in essentially the same way: /klivz/ in the US and /kliːvz/ in the UK.
British respelling: KLEEVZ.
What does cleaves mean?
- third-person singular simple present indicative of cleave How to pronounce cleave
Words that rhyme with cleaves
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cleaves.
Questions about saying cleaves
How do you pronounce cleaves?
Say KLEEVZ. The American pronunciation is /klivz/. In British English it is /kliːvz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cleaves?
Cleaves is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KLEEVZ.
Do Americans and Brits say cleaves the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /klivz/ and the British form is /kliːvz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.