How to pronounce offside
Say it like of-SYDE. Offside has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SYDE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce offside. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- of
- SYDE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Offside pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ofKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- SYDESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of offside
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: of-SYDE.
What does offside mean?
- In an illegal position ahead of the ball, puck, etc.
- Out of bounds.
- To the side of the road, past the curb and sidewalk.
- An offside play.
- The side of a road vehicle furthest from the kerb: the right side if one drives on the left of the road.“My offside wing mirror got snapped off.”
- The right-hand side of a working animal such as a horse or bullock, especially when in harness.
Where does offside come from?
From off- + side. Compare German Abseite (“remote area, backside”), German abseits (“out of the way, apart, aside”, adverb), Dutch afzijdig (“neutral, impartial”).
Words that rhyme with offside
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of offside.
Questions about saying offside
How do you pronounce offside?
Say of-SYDE. The American pronunciation is /ɑfˈsaɪd/. In British English it is /ɒfˈsaɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in offside?
Offside has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SYDE). Broken into parts: of · SYDE.
Is offside pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ɒfˈsaɪd/ (of-SYDE).