How to pronounce holdover
Say it like HOHL-doh-ver. Holdover has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOHL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce holdover. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOHL
- doh
- ver
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Holdover pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HOHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- dohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- verKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of holdover
- 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: HOHL-doh-vuh.
What does holdover mean?
- Something left behind, saved or remaining from an earlier time.“That policy is a holdover from days of punch card data entry.”
- The distance (at target) by which a rifle scope is aimed higher than the intended point of impact in order to compensate for bullet drop over the distance to the target.“This rangefinder not only measures the distance to the target, but also provides a digital readout of the inches of holdover at that distance.”
Where does holdover come from?
Deverbal from hold over.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying holdover
How do you pronounce holdover?
Say HOHL-doh-ver. The American pronunciation is /ˈhoʊlˌdoʊvɚ/. In British English it is /ˈhəʊlˌdəʊvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in holdover?
Holdover has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOHL). Broken into parts: HOHL · doh · ver.
Is holdover 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 /ˈhəʊlˌdəʊvə/ (HOHL-doh-vuh).