How to pronounce overheat
Say it like oh-ver-HEET. Overheat has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (HEET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overheat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- HEET
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overheat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- verKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- HEETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of overheat
- 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-HEET.
What does overheat mean?
- To heat excessively.
- To become excessively hot.
- To grow too quickly in an uncontrolled way.
- A condition of being overheated.
Where does overheat come from?
From Middle English overheten.
Words that rhyme with overheat
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of overheat.
Questions about saying overheat
How do you pronounce overheat?
Say oh-ver-HEET. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈhit/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈhiːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overheat?
Overheat has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (HEET). Broken into parts: oh · ver · HEET.
Is overheat 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 /ˌəʊvəˈhiːt/ (oh-vuh-HEET).