How to pronounce gavel
Say it like GAV-ul. Gavel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GAV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce gavel. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GAV
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Gavel pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GAVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of gavel
American and British speakers say gavel in essentially the same way: /ˈɡævəl/ in the US and /ˈɡævəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: GAV-ul.
What does gavel mean?
- To divide or distribute according to the gavel system.
- A wooden mallet, used by a courtroom judge, or by a committee chairman, struck against a sounding block to quieten those present, or by an auctioneer to accept the highest bid at auction.
- The beginning or end of legal proceedings.
- The legal system as a whole.
- To use a gavel.
- To begin or end legal proceedings“The judge gavelled for order in the courtroom after the defendant burst out with a confession.”
Where does gavel come from?
From Middle English gavel, from Old English gafol, from Proto-West Germanic *gabul, from Proto-Germanic *gebaną (“to give”), equivalent to give + -el.
Words that rhyme with gavel
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of gavel.
Questions about saying gavel
How do you pronounce gavel?
Say GAV-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡævəl/. In British English it is /ˈɡævəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in gavel?
Gavel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GAV). Broken into parts: GAV · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say gavel the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɡævəl/ and the British form is /ˈɡævəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.