How to pronounce overdraft
Say it like OH-ver-draft. Overdraft 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 overdraft. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- ver
- draft
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overdraft 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.
- draftKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of overdraft
- 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-drahft.
What does overdraft mean?
- The act of overdrawing a bank account.
- The amount overdrawn.“I have an overdraft of £1234.”
- The maximum amount that may be overdrawn.“The bank have given me an overdraft of $2000.”
- To extract groundwater from (an aquifer) beyond the safe yield or equilibrium yield.
Where does overdraft come from?
From over- + draft.
Questions about saying overdraft
How do you pronounce overdraft?
Say OH-ver-draft. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊvɚdræft/. In British English it is /ˈəʊvədrɑːft/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overdraft?
Overdraft has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · ver · draft.
Is overdraft 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 /ˈəʊvədrɑːft/ (OH-vuh-drahft).