How to pronounce overburden
Say it like oh-ver-BUR-dun. Overburden has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overburden. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- BUR
- dun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overburden 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.
- BURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- dunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of overburden
- 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-BUR-dun.
What does overburden mean?
- To overload or overtax.
- The rock and subsoil that lies above a mineral deposit such as a coal seam, or any other underground feature.
- A sterile stratum that lies above the stratum being investigated.
Where does overburden come from?
From over- + burden.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying overburden
How do you pronounce overburden?
Say oh-ver-BUR-dun. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈbɝdən/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈbɜːdən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overburden?
Overburden has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BUR). Broken into parts: oh · ver · BUR · dun.
Is overburden 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 /ˌəʊvəˈbɜːdən/ (oh-vuh-BUR-dun).