How to Pronounce Cave

To pronounce "cave", say CAV-e — 2 syllables, IPA /keɪv/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

cave

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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2

Syllables

4

Letters

/keɪv/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “cave”

"cave" has 2 syllables: cav-e. It rhymes with enclave and waive, if that helps it stick.

What does cave mean?

noun

  1. A large, naturally-occurring cavity formed underground or in the face of a cliff or a hillside.

    “We found a cave on the mountainside where we could take shelter.”

  2. A hole, depression, or gap in earth or rock, whether natural or man-made.

verb

  1. To surrender.

    “He caved under pressure.”

  2. To collapse.

    “First the braces buckled, then the roof began to cave, then we ran.”

Synonyms

earthholespelunk

Hear “cave” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with cave

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

enclavewaivecravewavebraveknavelaveconcavedepraveconclaveraveshave

Related words

spelunkunderminecovechasmabyssdengrottoantre

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "cave"?▾

"Cave" has 2 syllables: cav · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "cave"?▾

The IPA transcription of "cave" is /keɪv/.

What does "cave" mean?▾

Cave: A large, naturally-occurring cavity formed underground or in the face of a cliff or a hillside.

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