quaver
/ˈkweɪvə(ɹ)/noun, verb
quaver is spelled Q-U-A-V-E-R: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 18 million words in written English, the 128,787th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, quaver means “A trembling shake” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of quaver is quavers.
How many letters and syllables are in quaver?
| Letters | 6: Q-U-A-V-E-R |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 18 million words; the 128,787th 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 quaver?
Quaver appears about once in every 18 million words in written English, the 128,787th 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 quaver?
- /ˈkweɪvə(ɹ)/
Quaver has 2 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-quaver.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of quaver
- quavers plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- quavering participle, present
- quavered participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does quaver mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A trembling shake.
- 2
A trembling of the voice, as in speaking or singing.
- 3
an eighth note, drawn as a crotchet (quarter note) with a tail.
verb
- 1
To shake in a trembling manner.
- 2
To use the voice in a trembling manner, as in speaking or singing.
- 3
To utter quaveringly.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Quaver in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Beben , Zittern, Trillern , Achtelnote , zittern , trillern |
| Spanish | temblor , corchea |
| French | croche |
| Portuguese | colcheia |
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 quaver come from?
From Middle English quaveren, frequentative form of quaven, cwavien (“to tremble”), equivalent to quave + -er. Cognate with Low German quabbeln (“to quiver”), German quabbeln, quappeln (“to quiver”). More at quave, quab, quiver.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).