Cain is a male given name and biblical figure, pronounced as a single-syllable vowel sound followed by a short 'n' in most dialects. It is also used as a surname. The pronunciation is consistently /keɪn/ in English, with emphasis on the diphthong nucleus and clear final nasal, making it distinct from similar names like 'Ken' or 'Kane.'
"The name Cain appears in several historical texts and literary works."
"She introduced her friend, Cain, who lives in the next town."
"In the sermon, they discussed the figure of Cain and his choices."
"The surname Cain has appeared in various genealogical records across centuries."
Cain derives from Hebrew Kayin (קַיִן), from the root QYN meaning “to acquire” or “to possess.” In the Bible, Cain is the first son of Adam and Eve, named after his act of acquiring or possessing something (often interpreted as the plowman or the one who has acquired). The name entered Greek and Latin transliterations as Kaϊn, Cain, and variations across languages. In English, the pronunciation settled as a single syllable with a long A, transmitting the vowel sound in Kayin as /keɪ/. The first known use in English appears in medieval manuscripts reflecting biblical names imported from Latin Vulgate and Greek traditions. Over time, Cain has also become a common surname in English-speaking regions, sometimes used in literary or historical contexts to evoke biblical or ancestral resonance. In modern usage, it functions primarily as a proper noun with strong cultural connotations, influenced by religious, literary, and genealogical associations.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cain" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Cain" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Cain"
-ane sounds
-ain sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Cain is pronounced /keɪn/ with a single syllable. Start with a hard /k/, glide into the diphthong /eɪ/ (as in bait), and finish with a clear /n/. The stress is on the only syllable. Mouth posture: back of tongue rises to /k/, then the tongue gently moves to the front for /eɪ/, ending with the alveolar /n/. For reference, think “kay-n.”
Common errors: (1) Slurring the final /n/, making it sound like “kay” or “ke-in” with no final nasal; (2) Mispronouncing the diphthong as a pure /e/ or /iː/ instead of /eɪ/; (3) Adding an extra syllable or vowel (e.g., /ˈkaɪn/ or /keɪ.ən/). Correction: keep the tongue in a single-syllable track, produce a clean /eɪ/ by starting with /e/ and gliding to /ɪ/ softly, and end with a crisp alveolar nasal /n/.
US/UK/AU share /keɪn/ as the standard, but differences appear in intonation and articulation. US speakers often have a slightly longer, taut /eɪ/ with a clear, rapid glide to /n/. UK speakers may exhibit a marginally shorter diphthong; AU tends to a broad /eɪ/ similar to US but with maybe a drier final /n/. The rhotic vs non-rhotic nature does not affect Cain as there is no post-consonantal r, but vowel quality and rhythm can color perception between dialects.
The challenge lies in balancing the gliding diphthong /eɪ/ with the final nasal /n/ in a single syllable. Some speakers lengthen the vowel or insert a tiny schwa, producing /keɪən/ or /kaɪn/; others mouth the /n/ too lightly, sounding like /keɪ/. Precise tongue positioning—back of tongue for /k/, high-front for /eɪ/, alveolar contact for /n/—helps achieve a natural, crisp Cain.
Cain has a single, stressed syllable with no silent letters. The key is the diphthong /eɪ/ and the final /n/. Unlike some names, there’s no alternate stress or silent consonant. The name remains a simple, one-syllable structure: /keɪn/. Focus on keeping the mouth in a single syllabic execution: onset /k/, nucleus /eɪ/, coda /n/.
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