How to pronounce overfire
Say it like OH-ver-fire. Overfire 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 overfire. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- ver
- fire
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overfire 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.
- fireGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of overfire
- 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-fy.
What does overfire mean?
- Of a boiler, furnace, or other heating device: relating to components or other things that are located above the fire.
- To create too large a fire in a fireplace, furnace, firebox, etc.
- To fire at a high (or excessively high) temperature.
- Of a cell or group of cells: to fire excessively.
Where does overfire come from?
From over- (prefix meaning ‘above, higher; excessively’) + fire.
Questions about saying overfire
How do you pronounce overfire?
Say OH-ver-fire. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊvɚˌfaɪr/. In British English it is /ˈəʊvəfaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overfire?
Overfire has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · ver · fire.
Is overfire 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 /ˈəʊvəfaɪ/ (OH-vuh-fy).