How to pronounce oversea
Say it like oh-ver-SEE. Oversea has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oversea. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- SEE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oversea 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.
- SEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of oversea
- 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-SEE.
What does oversea mean?
- Alternative form of overseas.
- Alternative form of overseas.
Where does oversea come from?
From Middle English over-se, over see, ouer sea, from Old English ofer sǣ (literally “over/across (the) sea”); equivalent to over + sea.
Words that rhyme with oversea
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oversea.
Words that sound like oversea
Questions about saying oversea
How do you pronounce oversea?
Say oh-ver-SEE. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈsi/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈsiː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oversea?
Oversea has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SEE). Broken into parts: oh · ver · SEE.
Is oversea 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 /ˌəʊvəˈsiː/ (oh-vuh-SEE).
What words sound the same as oversea?
Oversea sounds the same as oversee in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.