How to pronounce “shave”
Shave is pronounced /ˈʃeɪv/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“shave” sound by sound
“shave” is built out of 3 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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ʃPull the tongue slightly back from the /s/ position, spread the blade wide behind the ridge, round the lips a little, and push air through with no voice.
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eɪStart at the /e/ position and glide upward and forward toward /ɪ/ — the jaw closes as you say it.
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vUpper teeth on the lower lip, push air through the gap, and add voicing so the lip buzzes.
Silent letters in “shave”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “shave”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “shave”
Each of these differs from “shave” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “shave”
- How do you pronounce “shave”?
- “shave” is pronounced /ˈʃeɪv/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “shave”?
- “shave” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- Does “shave” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
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