How to pronounce covert
Say it like KOH-vert. Covert has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce covert. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOH
- vert
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Covert pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- vertKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of covert
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: KOH-vurt.
What does covert mean?
- a flock of coots
- a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something“a screen of trees afforded privacy”“under cover of darkness”
- secret or hidden; not openly practiced or engaged in or shown or avowed“covert actions by the CIA”“covert funding for the rebels”
- (of a wife) being under the protection of her husband“a woman covert”
Where does covert come from?
From Middle English covert, from Old French covert, past participle of covrir (“to cover”) (corresponding to Latin coopertus); cognate to cover.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying covert
How do you pronounce covert?
Say KOH-vert. The American pronunciation is /ˈkoʊvɚt/. In British English it is /ˈkəʊvɜːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in covert?
Covert has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOH). Broken into parts: KOH · vert.
Is covert pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈkəʊvɜːt/ (KOH-vurt).