How to pronounce pave
Say it like PAYV. Pave 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 pave. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAYV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pave pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PAYVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of pave
American and British speakers say pave in essentially the same way: /peɪv/ in the US and /peɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: PAYV.
What does pave mean?
- To cover something with paving slabs.
- To cover with stone, concrete, blacktop or other solid covering, especially to aid travel.
- To pave the way for; to make easy and smooth.
Where does pave come from?
From Old French paver (“to pave, to cover”), from Vulgar Latin *pavāre (“to beat down, to smash”), from Latin pavīre (“to beat, strike, ram, tread down”).
Words that rhyme with pave
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pave.
Questions about saying pave
How do you pronounce pave?
Say PAYV. The American pronunciation is /peɪv/. In British English it is /peɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pave?
Pave is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PAYV.
Do Americans and Brits say pave the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /peɪv/ and the British form is /peɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.