How to pronounce overbear
Say it like oh-ver-BAIR. Overbear has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BAIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overbear. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- BAIR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overbear pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohGive 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.
- BAIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of overbear
- 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: oh-vuh-BAIR.
What does overbear mean?
- To push through by physical weight or strength; to overwhelm, overcome.
- To prevail over; to dominate, overpower; to oppress.
- To produce an overabundance of fruit.
Where does overbear come from?
From Middle English overberen; equivalent to over- + bear.
Words that rhyme with overbear
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of overbear.
Questions about saying overbear
How do you pronounce overbear?
Say oh-ver-BAIR. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈbɛr/. In British English it is /əʊvəˈbɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overbear?
Overbear has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BAIR). Broken into parts: oh · ver · BAIR.
Is overbear 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 /əʊvəˈbɛə/ (oh-vuh-BAIR).