How to pronounce overhead
Say it like OH-ver-hed. Overhead 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 overhead. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- ver
- hed
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overhead 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.
- hedGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of overhead
- 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-hed.
What does overhead mean?
- above your head; in the sky“planes were flying overhead”
- above the head; over the head“bring the legs together overhead”
- the expense of maintaining property (e.g., paying property taxes and utilities and insurance); it does not include depreciation or the cost of financing or income taxes
- (computer science) the processing time required by a device prior to the execution of a command
- (computer science) the disk space required for information that is not data but is used for location and timing
- located or originating from above“an overhead crossing”
Where does overhead come from?
From Middle English owerheved, over-hed, over hede (adverb), from Old English oferhēafod (adverb), equivalent to over- + head.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying overhead
How do you pronounce overhead?
Say OH-ver-hed. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊvɚˌhɛd/. In British English it is /ˈəʊvəˌhɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overhead?
Overhead has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · ver · hed.
Is overhead 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 /ˈəʊvəˌhɛd/ (OH-vuh-hed).