How to pronounce overlay
Say it like OH-ver-lay. Overlay has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH).
- OH
- ver
- lay
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overlay 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.
- layGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of overlay
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 3.
- 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-LAY.
What does overlay mean?
- To lay, spread, or apply (something) over or across (something else); to overspread.“She will now overlay the crust with fruit.”
- To overwhelm; to press excessively upon.
- To put an overlay on.
- simple past of overlie How to pronounce overlie
- An image to be overlaid on another; a superimposition or diapositive.
- A piece of paper pasted upon the tympan sheet to improve the impression by making it stronger at a particular place.
- Odds which are set higher than expected or warranted. Favorable odds.
Where does overlay come from?
From Middle English overleyen, from Old English oferleċġan, from Proto-West Germanic *obarlaggjan, from Proto-Germanic *uberlagjaną, equivalent to over- + lay.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying overlay
How do you pronounce overlay?
Say OH-ver-lay. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊvɚˌleɪ/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈleɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overlay?
Overlay has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · ver · lay.
Is overlay pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 3. The British form is /ˌəʊvəˈleɪ/ (oh-vuh-LAY).