cavernous
/ˈkæv.ɚ.nəs/adjective
cavernous is spelled C-A-V-E-R-N-O-U-S: 9 letters and 3 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 39,336th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, cavernous means “Resembling a cavern in size, shape, or atmosphere” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in cavernous?
| Letters | 9: C-A-V-E-R-N-O-U-S |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 39,336th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is cavernous?
Cavernous appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 39,336th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce cavernous?
- UK /ˈkav.ən.əs/
- US /ˈkæv.ɚ.nəs/
Cavernous has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-cavernous.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of cavernous
- more cavernous comparative
- most cavernous superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does cavernous mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Resembling a cavern in size, shape, or atmosphere.
- 2
Giving the impression of vast, dark depths.
cavernous eyes
- 3
Composed largely of vascular sinuses and capable of dilating with blood to bring about the erection of a body part.
- 4
Having cavities.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Cavernous in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does cavernous come from?
Late Middle English cavernous, cavernose, borrowing from Old French caverneux or Latin cavernōsus (“full of hollows or cavities”), from caverna (“a hollow, cavity, cave”) + -ōsus (“-ous, -ose”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to cavern + -ous.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).