How to pronounce verve
Say it like VURV. Verve 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 verve. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VURV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Verve pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VURVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of verve
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: VURV.
What does verve mean?
- Enthusiasm, rapture, spirit, or vigor, especially of imagination such as that which animates an artist, musician, or writer, in composing or performing.
Where does verve come from?
Borrowed from French verve (“animation; caprice, whim; rapture; spirit; vigor; type of expression”), probably from Late Latin verva, a variant of Latin verba (“words; discourse; expressions; language”), the plural of verbum (“word”), ultim
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with verve
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of verve.
Questions about saying verve
How do you pronounce verve?
Say VURV. The American pronunciation is /vɝv/. In British English it is /vɜːv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in verve?
Verve is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: VURV.
Is verve pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /vɜːv/ (VURV).