How to pronounce lava
Say it like LAH-vuh. Lava has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lava. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAH
- vuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lava pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAHSay 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 lava
American and British speakers say lava in essentially the same way: /ˈlɑvə/ in the US and /ˈlɑːvə/ in the UK.
British respelling: LAH-vuh.
What does lava mean?
- rock that in its molten form (as magma) issues from volcanos; lava is what magma is called when it reaches the surface
Where does lava come from?
From Italian, from Neapolitan and Sicilian lava (“lava; downpour overflowing the streets”), likely from Latin lābēs (“a fall; a collapse; subsidence”); compare lābīna (“landslide”).
Words that rhyme with lava
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lava.
Questions about saying lava
How do you pronounce lava?
Say LAH-vuh. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɑvə/. In British English it is /ˈlɑːvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lava?
Lava has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAH). Broken into parts: LAH · vuh.
Do Americans and Brits say lava the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɑvə/ and the British form is /ˈlɑːvə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.