How to pronounce valve
Say it like VALV. Valve 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 valve. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VALV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Valve pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VALVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of valve
American and British speakers say valve in essentially the same way: /vælv/ in the US and /vælv/ in the UK.
British respelling: VALV.
What does valve mean?
- a structure in a hollow organ (like the heart) with a flap to insure one-way flow of fluid through it
- device in a brass wind instrument for varying the length of the air column to alter the pitch of a tone
- control consisting of a mechanical device for controlling the flow of a fluid
Where does valve come from?
From Middle English valve, from Latin valva (“double door, valve”).
Words that rhyme with valve
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of valve.
Questions about saying valve
How do you pronounce valve?
Say VALV. The American pronunciation is /vælv/. In British English it is /vælv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in valve?
Valve is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: VALV.
Do Americans and Brits say valve the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /vælv/ and the British form is /vælv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.