3 syllables: Ca, ve, at. Stress on Ca.
KAY-vee-at
/ˈkeɪviˌæt/
Caveat is pronounced KAY-vee-at (/ˈkeɪviˌæt/). It has three syllables (Ca-ve-at), with the stress on "Ca". Caveat is a noun meaning a warning or proviso, especially to limit or qualify certain statements. It highlights conditionality or caution in a statement or claim, often preceding legal or formal assertions. The term is frequently used to flag potential issues or exceptions that should be considered before acting.
nounCaveat is a noun meaning a warning or proviso, especially to limit or qualify certain statements. It highlights conditionality or caution in a statement or claim, often preceding legal or formal assertions. The term is frequently used to flag potential issues or exceptions that should be considered before acting.
- You often misplace stress or overemphasize the middle syllable. Fix by keeping the first syllable strong: CA-ve-at, with a crisp /k/ and short vowel. - You may overextend the final vowel or pronounce it as a full /t/. Instead, end with a quick /ət/ or a soft /ɪt/ in fast speech. - You might flatten the middle vowel to /i:/ or /i/; keep it short and unstressed, like /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on your accent.
How to Pronounce Caveat
"He offered a caveat that the results might not apply to all populations."
"There is a caveat to the agreement: payment must be received within 30 days."
"She gave a caveat about the software’s compatibility with older systems."
US/UK/AU IPA guides agree on /ˈkæ.vi.æt/ (US: /ˈkæ.vi.æt/, UK: /ˈkeɪ.vi.ət/ for some speakers, but standard educated usage tends toward /ˈkæ.vjæ/ or /ˈkeɪ.vi.æt/?), with the first syllable stressed. For clarity: start with a crisp /k/ + short /æ/ (cat-like), then a light /vi/ or /vj/ glide, and finish with /ət/ or /æt/ depending on speed. You can listen to native examples on Pronounce or Forvo to hear regional nuance.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying CA-vee-at instead of ca-VE-at? Actually the primary stress is on the first syllable, but some speakers misplace by leaning to second syllable. 2) Pronouncing the middle as a long vowel like /eɪ/ instead of a reduced /i/ or /ɪ/ depending on accent. 3) Final vowel pronounced as a clear /t/ instead of a lighter /ət/ in rapid speech. Correction: maintain crisp /k/ and short /æ/ in the first syllable, reduce the middle to a light /ɪ/ or /ə/ depending on pace, and end with a soft /ət/.”},{
In US English, caveat commonly pronounced /ˈkæ.vi.ət/ with final schwa-like /ə/. In many British variants, some speakers use /ˈkeɪ.vi.ət/ with a longer first vowel in close to /eɪ/; others keep /ˈkæ.vi.ət/. Australian speakers typically align with US patterns but may tilt toward /ˈkeɪ.vi.ət/ in higher-register speech. Focus on rhoticity: US is rhotic (r-colored or not in this word’s form), while the word itself ends in -æt or -ət with minimal rhotic presence. Use the nearest local standard for formal contexts.
Two main challenges: a) the initial consonant cluster /kæ/ with a short, lax vowel, and b) the final unstressed syllable /ət/ that often reduces to a schwa or a light vowel in rapid speech. Some speakers also blend /i/ and /æ/ in the middle syllable, causing /ˈkæ.vi.æt/ vs /ˈkeɪ.vi.ət/. The key is keeping the first syllable distinct and not letting the middle vowel drag; finish with a quick, soft end rather than a hard /t/. IPA helps anchor the exact sounds.
There is no silent letter in caveat. Every letter contributes to the pronunciation, though the final syllable is often lightly pronounced in connected speech. The first syllable uses a clear /k/ with a short /æ/ (US) or /eɪ/ (some UK variants), the middle is a /vi/ sequence, and the final is a light /ət/ or /æt/ depending on tempo. Practicing with clean enunciation helps avoid trailing or swallowing the final consonant.
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- US: rhotic, final /t/ softened in fast speech; vowel in first syllable as /æ/; IPA: /ˈkæviət/. - UK: may shift to /ˈkeɪviət/ or maintain /ˈkæviət/ depending on speaker, with non-rhotic tendencies; final syllable /ət/ remains light. - AU: often US-like patterns; slight openness in /æ/ and tendency to devoice the final /t/ slightly in rapid speech; IPA: /ˈkeɪviːət/ or /ˈkæviət/. Reference: IPA and regional phonology cues; aim for consistent syllabic rhythm across accents.
Caveat comes from the Latin caveat, meaning let him beware, a third-person singular present subjunctive of cavere, ‘to beware’ or ‘to take care.’ The word entered English legal and formal usage by the 17th century, retaining its sense of a formal warning or proviso. Its direct translation in legal phrases often positions caveats as protective stipulations that prevent misapplication of statements or actions. The term reflects a long-running tradition in law and diplomacy of attaching caveats to statements to preserve precision and accountability. Over time, caveat broadened beyond formal legal texts to general admonition in everyday language, retaining its core function: to qualify assertions and caution the listener about possible limitations, exceptions, or risks. First known use in English literature appears in the 17th century, though Latin precedent predates it by centuries, with caveat as a verb form in Latin idioms found in scholarly and ecclesiastical writings. In modern usage, caveat remains a compact, precise term used across law, policy, journalism, and academia to introduce a critical caveat or condition that accompanies a broader claim.
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Words that rhyme with "Caveat"
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