How to Pronounce Slave

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

slave

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/sleɪv/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “slave”

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

What does slave mean?

noun

A person who is held in servitude as the property of another person, and whose labor (and often also whose body and life) is subject to the owner's volition and control.
A drudge; one who labors or is obliged (e.g. by prior contract) to labor like a slave with limited rights, e.g. an indentured servant.

verb

To work as a slaver, to enslave people.
To work hard.
“I was slaving all day over a hot stove.”

Synonyms

secondary worker wretch

Antonyms

master primary

Hear “slave” 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 slave

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

enclave waive crave wave brave knave lave concave cave deprave conclave rave

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "slave"?▾

"Slave" has 2 syllables: slav · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "slave"?▾

The IPA transcription of "slave" is /sleɪv/.

What does "slave" mean?▾

Slave: A person who is held in servitude as the property of another person, and whose labor (and often also whose body and life) is subject to the owner's volition and control.

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