How to pronounce overlook
Say it like OH-ver-luuk. Overlook 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 overlook. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- ver
- luuk
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overlook 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.
- luukGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
American vs British pronunciation of overlook
- 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-LUUK.
What does overlook mean?
- look past, fail to notice
- be oriented in a certain direction“The house looks out on a tennis court”“The apartment overlooks the Hudson”
- leave undone or leave out“How could I miss that typo?”“The workers on the conveyor belt miss one out of ten”
- a high place affording a good view
Where does overlook come from?
From Middle English overloken; equivalent to over- + look.
Questions about saying overlook
How do you pronounce overlook?
Say OH-ver-luuk. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊvɚˌlʊk/. In British English it is /əʊvəˈlʊk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overlook?
Overlook has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · ver · luuk.
Is overlook pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 3. The British form is /əʊvəˈlʊk/ (oh-vuh-LUUK).