How to pronounce knave
Say it like NAYV. Knave 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 knave. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NAYV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Knave pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NAYVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of knave
American and British speakers say knave in essentially the same way: /neɪv/ in the US and /neɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: NAYV.
What does knave mean?
- A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person.
- A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or a soldier.
Where does knave come from?
From Middle English knave, knafe, from Old English cnafa (“child, boy, youth; servant”), from Proto-West Germanic *knabō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with knave
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of knave.
Words that sound like knave
Questions about saying knave
How do you pronounce knave?
Say NAYV. The American pronunciation is /neɪv/. In British English it is /neɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in knave?
Knave is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NAYV.
Do Americans and Brits say knave the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /neɪv/ and the British form is /neɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as knave?
Knave sounds the same as nave in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.