How to pronounce overnight
Say it like oh-ver-NYTE. Overnight has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NYTE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overnight. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- NYTE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overnight 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.
- NYTESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of overnight
- 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-NYTE.
What does overnight mean?
- lasting, open, or operating through the whole night“a nightlong vigil”“an all-night drugstore”
- during or for the length of one night“the fish marinates overnight”
- happening in a short time or with great speed“these solutions cannot be found overnight!”
Where does overnight come from?
Inherited from Middle English overnyght, from Old English ofer niht (“through the night, overnight”), equivalent to over + night.
Words that rhyme with overnight
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of overnight.
Questions about saying overnight
How do you pronounce overnight?
Say oh-ver-NYTE. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈnaɪt/. In British English it is /əʊvəˈnaɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overnight?
Overnight has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NYTE). Broken into parts: oh · ver · NYTE.
Is overnight 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 /əʊvəˈnaɪt/ (oh-vuh-NYTE).