The spelling of the word "khaavren" can be a bit confusing, especially for non-native English speakers. Its IPA phonetic transcription is /kə'vren/, with the stress on the second syllable. The "kh" sound represents a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the sound in the Scottish word "loch". The first "a" is pronounced like the "a" in "about", while the second one is pronounced like the "e" in "pet". The "v" is pronounced as in "vase", and the final "en" sounds like the "en" in "sudden".
The word "Khaavren" has its origins in the fantasy novels of Steven Brust, specifically in his "Khaavren Romances" series. The novels are set in the fictional world of Dragaera, which is heavily influenced by Eastern European folklore and culture.
The author stated that the name "Khaavren" was inspired by the Russian name "Khavronya", which, in turn, is derived from the word "khavron", meaning "ruff" or "collar" in Russian. The author chose this name to give a distinct Eastern European flavor to his protagonist, Khaavren.