How to pronounce ravenous
Say it like RAV-uh-nus. Ravenous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ravenous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAV
- uh
- nus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ravenous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RAVSay 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.
- nusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ravenous
American and British speakers say ravenous in essentially the same way: /ˈrævənəs/ in the US and /ˈrævənəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: RAV-uh-nus.
What does ravenous mean?
- Very hungry.
- Greedy, characterized by strong desires.
Where does ravenous come from?
From Middle English ravenous, ravynous, from Old French ravineus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying ravenous
How do you pronounce ravenous?
Say RAV-uh-nus. The American pronunciation is /ˈrævənəs/. In British English it is /ˈrævənəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ravenous?
Ravenous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAV). Broken into parts: RAV · uh · nus.
Do Americans and Brits say ravenous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrævənəs/ and the British form is /ˈrævənəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.