Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

elven

/ˈɛlv(ə)n/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.63 in modern English

Syllables
elv-en
IPA
/ˈɛlv(ə)n/
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An elm (a tree of the genus Ulmus, particularly the wych elm or Scots elm (Ulmus glabra))).

Example Sentences

Etymology

PIE word *albʰós Learned borrowing from Middle English elve, elven (“(also attributively) elf or fairy of either sex”) [and other forms], from Old English elfen, ælfen, ielfen (“female elf”), from elf, ælf, ielf (“elf”) (ultimately from Proto-Germanic *albiz (“elf, fairy”), from Proto-Indo-European *albʰós (“white”)) + -en (suffix forming feminine nouns). The English word is cognate with Middle High German elbinne (“fairy, nymph”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈɛlv(ə)n/
  • British English: /ˈɛlv(ə)n/

Inflected Forms

elvens (plural) more elven (comparative) most elven (superlative) elvin (alternative)

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce elven?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɛlv(ə)n/.
What does elven mean?
Originally, a female elf, a fairy, a nymph; (by extension) any elf.
Where does elven come from?
It is traced to Old English.

How to pronounce elven

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “elven”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɛlv(ə)n/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “elven”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “elven” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.