How to pronounce elven
Say it like EL-vun. Elven has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce elven. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EL
- vun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Elven pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- vunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of elven
American and British speakers say elven in essentially the same way: /ˈɛlvən/ in the US and /ˈɛlvən/ in the UK.
British respelling: EL-vun.
What does elven mean?
- Originally, a female elf, a fairy, a nymph; (by extension) any elf.
- Belonging or relating to, or characteristic of, elves; elfin, elflike.
- An elm (a tree of the genus Ulmus, particularly the wych elm or Scots elm (Ulmus glabra))).
Where does elven come from?
Learned borrowing from Middle English elve, elven (“(also attributively) elf or fairy of either sex”) [and other forms], from Old English elfen, ælfen, ielfen (“female elf”), from elf, ælf, ielf (“elf”) (ultimately from Proto-Germanic *albi
Words that rhyme with elven
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of elven.
Questions about saying elven
How do you pronounce elven?
Say EL-vun. The American pronunciation is /ˈɛlvən/. In British English it is /ˈɛlvən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in elven?
Elven has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EL). Broken into parts: EL · vun.
Do Americans and Brits say elven the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɛlvən/ and the British form is /ˈɛlvən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.