How to pronounce cover
Say it like KUHV-er. Cover has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cover. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KUHV
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cover pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KUHVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of cover
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KUHV-uh.
What does cover mean?
- provide with a covering or cause to be covered“cover her face with a handkerchief”“cover the child with a blanket”
- form a cover over“The grass covered the grave”
- span an interval of distance, space or time“The war extended over five years”“The period covered the turn of the century”
- a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something“a screen of trees afforded privacy”“under cover of darkness”
- bedding that keeps a person warm in bed“he pulled the covers over his head and went to sleep”
- the act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it“the cover concealed their guns from enemy aircraft”
Where does cover come from?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the original sense of the verb and noun cover was “hide from view” as in its cognate covert.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with cover
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cover.
Questions about saying cover
How do you pronounce cover?
Say KUHV-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈkʌvɚ/. In British English it is /ˈkʌvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cover?
Cover has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHV). Broken into parts: KUHV · er.
Is cover 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 /ˈkʌvə/ (KUHV-uh).