How to pronounce dove
Say it like DUHV. Dove 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 dove. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DUHV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: The bird rhymes with love. The past tense of dive rhymes with drove.
Dove pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DUHVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of dove
American and British speakers say dove in essentially the same way: /dʌv/ in the US and /dʌv/ in the UK.
British respelling: DUHV.
Other ways to say dove
Dove also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- DOHV /doʊv/
What does dove mean?
- any of numerous small pigeons
- someone who prefers negotiations to armed conflict in the conduct of foreign relations
- a constellation in the southern hemisphere near Puppis and Caelum
Where does dove come from?
Cognate with Scots doo, dow, Saterland Frisian Duuwe, West Frisian do, Dutch duif, Afrikaans duif, Sranan Tongo doifi, German Taube, German Low German Duuv, Dutch Low Saxon duve, doeve, Danish due, Faroese dúgva, Icelandic dúfa, Norwegian B
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with dove
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dove.
Questions about saying dove
How do you pronounce dove?
Say DUHV. The American pronunciation is /dʌv/. In British English it is /dʌv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dove?
Dove is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DUHV.
Do Americans and Brits say dove the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dʌv/ and the British form is /dʌv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.