2 syllables: Cre, vice. Stress on Cre.
KREV-uhs
/ˈkɹɛvəs/
Crevice is pronounced KREV-uhs (/ˈkɹɛvəs/). It has two syllables (Cre-vice), with the stress on "Cre". Crevice is a noun meaning a narrow opening or fissure, especially in rock or stone, formed by a split or crack. It often describes a small crevice that collects dirt or moisture and can be found in rock faces, foundations, or geological formations. The term conveys a sense of confinement within a solid surface and is used in both literal and figurative senses.
nounCrevice is a noun meaning a narrow opening or fissure, especially in rock or stone, formed by a split or crack. It often describes a small crevice that collects dirt or moisture and can be found in rock faces, foundations, or geological formations. The term conveys a sense of confinement within a solid surface and is used in both literal and figurative senses.
How to Pronounce Crevice
"A thin crevice ran along the rock face, catching the morning light."
"The gardener slipped a small plant into the crevice between the bricks."
"Water gathered in the crevice after the rainstorm, then slowly seeped through."
Crevice is pronounced /ˈkriˌvɪs/ in US and /ˈkriː.vɪs/ in UK. The primary stress falls on the first syllable: CRE-viss. The first vowel is a short or near-close near-front vowel, and the second syllable uses a schwa-like or short /ɪ/ before the final /s/. For American speakers, you’ll typically hear a crisp /ˈkri-vəs/ with a reduced second vowel; British pronunciation tends to a longer first vowel /iː/ and a clear /ɪ/ in the second syllable. You can think of it as creeping into place: CRE-viss, with a light, quick second syllable.
Common mistakes include saying /ˈkriː.vəs/ with a too-long first vowel in non-rhotic accents, or turning the second syllable into /sɪz/ as in “crisis.” To correct: keep the first syllable short and precise: /ˈkri-/, and end with a clean /vɪs/ or /vəs/ rather than /vɪz/. Some learners also misplace stress, sometimes saying /ˈkreɪ.vɪs/ or /ˈkri.vəs/ with an extra syllable; maintain a single-stress pattern on the first syllable. Practice with minimal pairs to lock in /kri-/ and the /vɪs/ coda.
In US English, /ˈkriˌvɪs/ with a lighter second syllable; the /r/ is rhotically pronounced and the second vowel is short /ɪ/ or reduced to /ə/ in rapid speech. UK English often renders as /ˈkriː.vɪs/ with a longer first vowel and precise /vɪs/; the /r/ is non-rhotic, so the /r/ is not strongly pronounced before a consonant. Australian English follows US patterns in rhoticity but can feature a slightly broader vowel in the first syllable, approaching /iː/ in some speakers. Overall, US tends to a shorter first vowel and pronounced /r/; UK tends to a longer first vowel and silent /r/ in many dialects; AU tends to a rhotic but variable realization with a clear /vɪs/.
Crevice challenges include the consonant cluster /kr/ at the onset and the abrupt /v/ followed by a short /ɪ/ or a reduced vowel in the second syllable. Some speakers may substitute /ɡ/ or mispronounce as /ˈkreɪ.vɪs/; others misaccent the second syllable by elongating it too much or turning /vɪs/ into /vəz/. The key is crisp articulation of /k/ + /r/ (blend without delaying the /r/), and a quick, light second syllable with /v/ followed by a short lax vowel. Practicing with careful imitation of slow, then normal tempo helps stabilize the sequence.
Crevice has a tight onset /kr/ that requires a quick, connected release into /i/ and the fricative /v/. Keep your tongue high for /k/ and curl slightly for /r/ to avoid a separate /k/ release. The second syllable should be brisk: don't insert a pause between /kri/ and /vɪs/. In connected speech, you’ll often hear a lightly reduced vowel in the second syllable; aim for /ˈkri-vəs/ when speaking quickly and /ˈkriː.vɪs/ in careful speech.
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Crevice comes from the Old French crevisse, from creir ‘to crack’ (related to crever ‘to break, burst’) and the Latin creeber, plus -ice as a formative suffix. The word entered English in the early 17th century, initially tied to geological contexts and natural cracks in rock. Its usage expanded to describe narrow openings in man-made structures as well. The core idea has always centered on a small, cracked gap within a solid surface; historically, crevices were notable in geology and architecture for their roles as channels for water and places for organisms to inhabit. Over time, crevice acquired additional figurative senses, such as subtle divisions or gaps in reasoning or surfaces. First known printed usage dates to around the 1620s, with scientific writing in the 18th and 19th centuries cementing its association with geology and construction. The term remains common in geology, archaeology, architecture, and natural history to describe a narrow fracture or seam that plays a critical role in structural integrity and environmental processes.
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Words that rhyme with "Crevice"
-ive sounds
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