How to pronounce kava
Say it like KAH-vuh. Kava has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kava. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAH
- vuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kava pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- vuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of kava
American and British speakers say kava in essentially the same way: /ˈkɑvə/ in the US and /ˈkɑːvə/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAH-vuh.
What does kava mean?
- Any member of the species Piper methysticum, a plant from the South Pacific.
- An intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant.
Where does kava come from?
Doublet of ʻawa, ava, kawa, and yava.
Words that rhyme with kava
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kava.
Questions about saying kava
How do you pronounce kava?
Say KAH-vuh. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑvə/. In British English it is /ˈkɑːvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kava?
Kava has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAH). Broken into parts: KAH · vuh.
Do Americans and Brits say kava the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkɑvə/ and the British form is /ˈkɑːvə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.