A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Cabernet
Pronounce this popular red wine grape: KAB-er-nay SAV-in-yon.
cabernet
KAB-er-nay SAV-in-yon
/ˌkæbərˌneɪ ˈsævɪnˌjɒn/ · KAB · er · nay · SAV · in · yon
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It's one of the world's most recognized red wine grape varieties.
Where the word comes from
The name 'Cabernet Sauvignon' comes from French, likely derived from 'caber', meaning 'vine shoot', and 'Sauvignon', possibly related to 'sauvage', meaning 'wild'.
Common ways people get it wrong
- CAB-er-net This common mistake misses the second part of the name, 'Sauvignon'. Remember it's a two-part name for the grape.
- CAB-er-nay SOV-in-yon The 'g' in Sauvignon is soft, like the 's' in 'measure' or 'vision', not a hard 'g'.
Frequently asked
How do you say cabernet sauvignon fast?
When spoken quickly, the syllables can blend together, sounding like 'KAB-er-nay SAV-in-yon'. Focus on clear pronunciation of each part.
Is it cabernet sauvignon or cabernet sauron?
It's 'Sauvignon', not 'Sauron'. The latter is a character from Lord of the Rings; 'Sauvignon' refers to the grape.
What's the difference between cabernet and cabernet sauvignon?
Often, 'Cabernet' is used as shorthand for 'Cabernet Sauvignon' when referring to the wine. However, Cabernet Franc is another distinct grape variety.
