How to pronounce raven
Say it like RAY-vun. Raven has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce raven. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAY
- vun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Raven pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- vunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of raven
American and British speakers say raven in essentially the same way: /ˈreɪvən/ in the US and /ˈreɪvən/ in the UK.
British respelling: RAY-vun.
What does raven mean?
- large black bird with a straight bill and long wedge-shaped tail
- obtain or seize by violence
- prey on or hunt for“These mammals predate certain eggs”
- eat greedily“he devoured three sandwiches”
Where does raven come from?
From Middle English raven, reven (“raven (Corvus corax); carrion crow (Corvus corone); rook (Corvus frugilegus) (?); the constellation Corvus; gall nuts of the Aleppo oak (Quercus infectoria) used to make black ink”), from Old English hræfn
Words that rhyme with raven
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of raven.
Questions about saying raven
How do you pronounce raven?
Say RAY-vun. The American pronunciation is /ˈreɪvən/. In British English it is /ˈreɪvən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in raven?
Raven has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAY). Broken into parts: RAY · vun.
Do Americans and Brits say raven the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈreɪvən/ and the British form is /ˈreɪvən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.