quaver
/ˈkweɪvə(ɹ)/
"quaver" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“quaver” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 6
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A trembling shake.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | quaver |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈkweɪvə(ɹ)/ |
| Letters | 6 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “quaver” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for quaver is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkweɪvə(ɹ)/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for quaver, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: 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. The correct English form is quaver, spelled Q-U-A-V-E-R.
Definition
- 1A trembling shake.
- 2A trembling of the voice, as in speaking or singing.
- 3an eighth note, drawn as a crotchet (quarter note) with a tail.
Etymology
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.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “quaver”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is Q-U-A-V-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈkweɪvə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.