How to pronounce heaven
Say it like HEV-un. Heaven has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HEV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce heaven. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HEV
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Heaven pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HEVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of heaven
American and British speakers say heaven in essentially the same way: /ˈhɛvən/ in the US and /ˈhɛvən/ in the UK.
British respelling: HEV-un.
What does heaven mean?
- any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
- the abode of God and the angels
Where does heaven come from?
Accepting these as cognates, some scholars propose a further derivation from Proto-Germanic *himinaz (“cover, cloud cover, firmament, sky, heaven”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with heaven
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of heaven.
Questions about saying heaven
How do you pronounce heaven?
Say HEV-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɛvən/. In British English it is /ˈhɛvən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in heaven?
Heaven has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HEV). Broken into parts: HEV · un.
Do Americans and Brits say heaven the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhɛvən/ and the British form is /ˈhɛvən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.