clave: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very Low FrequencyLiterary/Archival (for the verb), Specialized/Musical (for the noun)
Quick answer
What does “clave” mean?
The past tense of the verb 'cleave', meaning to split or sever something, especially along a natural line or grain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past tense of the verb 'cleave', meaning to split or sever something, especially along a natural line or grain.
In music, a term from Latin American music, particularly Afro-Cuban, referring to a rhythmic pattern that serves as the foundation of a composition. It can also mean a key (Spanish 'clave' = key).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning. Both use 'claved' less commonly than 'cleaved' or 'clove' for the past tense of 'cleave'. The musical term is used identically.
Connotations
The verb form 'clave' (past of cleave) has an archaic, poetic, or biblical connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
As a musical term, frequency is equal in specialized contexts (musicology, percussion). As a verb form, it is extremely rare in everyday speech in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “clave” in a Sentence
[Subject] + clave + [Direct Object] (archaic verb)The + clave + [Verb] (e.g., The clave drives the song.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clave” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The log clave cleanly in two with a single strike.
- He clave to his principles despite the pressure.
American English
- The axe clave the timber along its grain.
- She clave to her original story during the interview.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology, ethnomusicology, and cultural studies papers discussing Latin American music.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be encountered by musicians or in dance classes.
Technical
Core term in music theory for Afro-Cuban genres like salsa, son, rumba. Refers to both the pattern and the percussion instrument (claves) that plays it.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clave”
- Using 'clave' as a present tense verb (e.g., 'He claves the wood' – incorrect).
- Confusing 'clave' (pattern) with 'claves' (the two sticks).
- Pronouncing it as /klæv/ instead of /kleɪv/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word. It is common only within specific contexts like musicology, Latin percussion, and dance.
No. As a verb related to splitting, 'clave' is an archaic past tense of 'cleave'. The present tense is 'cleave'. In modern English, you would say 'cleaves', 'cleaved', or 'clove'.
'Clave' (singular) typically refers to the rhythmic pattern itself. 'Claves' (plural) refers to the pair of hardwood sticks that are struck together to play that pattern.
It is pronounced /kleɪv/, rhyming with 'save' or 'wave', in both British and American English.
The past tense of the verb 'cleave', meaning to split or sever something, especially along a natural line or grain.
Clave is usually literary/archival (for the verb), specialized/musical (for the noun) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “son clave (the specific 3-2 or 2-3 rhythmic pattern)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a KEY (clave in Spanish) that UNLOCKS the rhythm of the music. Or for the verb: The axe CLEAVED the wood, and it CLAVE in two (archaic).
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATION IS A KEY (The clave is the key to the rhythm). STRUCTURE IS A SPLIT (The verb implies splitting along a line).
Practice
Quiz
What is the MOST COMMON contemporary meaning of 'clave' in English?