How to pronounce overcast
Say it like OH-ver-kast. Overcast has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overcast. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- ver
- kast
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overcast pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- verKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- kastGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of overcast
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: OH-vuh-kahst.
What does overcast mean?
- A cloud covering all of the sky from horizon to horizon.
- A place where one roadway crosses another, specifically where an airway was built across the top of another airway for ventilation purposes.
- Covered with clouds; overshadowed; darkened; (meteorology) more than 90% covered by clouds.
- In a state of depression; gloomy; melancholy.
- To cover with cloud; to overshadow; to darken.
- To make gloomy; to depress.
- To fasten (sheets) by overcast stitching or by folding one edge over another.
Where does overcast come from?
From Middle English overcasten, equivalent to over- + cast.
Questions about saying overcast
How do you pronounce overcast?
Say OH-ver-kast. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊvɚˌkæst/. In British English it is /ˈəʊvəˌkɑːst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overcast?
Overcast has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · ver · kast.
Is overcast 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 /ˈəʊvəˌkɑːst/ (OH-vuh-kahst).