How to pronounce maverick
Say it like MAV-uh-rik. Maverick has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce maverick. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAV
- uh
- rik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Maverick pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MAVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of maverick
American and British speakers say maverick in essentially the same way: /ˈmævərɪk/ in the US and /ˈmævərɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAV-uh-rik.
What does maverick mean?
- An unbranded range animal.
- Anything dishonestly obtained.
- One who is unconventional or does not abide by rules.“Among historians he was a maverick because of his belief that history is meaningless.”
- Unbranded.
- Showing independence in thoughts or actions.“He made a maverick decision. She is such a maverick person.”
- To take an unbranded range animal.
- To seize without a legal claim.
Where does maverick come from?
The poker noun sense (“a queen and a jack as a starting hand in Texas hold ’em”) may be from the theme song of the US Western television series Maverick (1957–1962), which says of the eponymous protagonist that “[g]amblin’ is his game” and
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying maverick
How do you pronounce maverick?
Say MAV-uh-rik. The American pronunciation is /ˈmævərɪk/. In British English it is /ˈmævərɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in maverick?
Maverick has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAV). Broken into parts: MAV · uh · rik.
Do Americans and Brits say maverick the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmævərɪk/ and the British form is /ˈmævərɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.