How to pronounce overhear
Say it like oh-ver-HIH-er. Overhear has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (HIH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overhear. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- HIH
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overhear pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- verKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- HIHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of overhear
- 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-HIH-uh.
What does overhear mean?
- To hear something that was not meant for one's ears.“I was hanging clothes in the garden and I overheard the neighbors talking about Sheila's pregnancy.”
Where does overhear come from?
From Middle English overheren, from Old English oferhīeran (“to overhear, hear, disobey, disregard, neglect”), equivalent to over- + hear.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with overhear
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of overhear.
Questions about saying overhear
How do you pronounce overhear?
Say oh-ver-HIH-er. The American pronunciation is /oʊvɚˈhɪɚ/. In British English it is /əʊvəˈhɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overhear?
Overhear has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (HIH). Broken into parts: oh · ver · HIH · er.
Is overhear 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 /əʊvəˈhɪə/ (oh-vuh-HIH-uh).