How to pronounce overseas
Say it like oh-ver-SEEZ. Overseas has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SEEZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overseas. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- SEEZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overseas 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.
- SEEZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of overseas
- 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-SEEZ.
What does overseas mean?
- beyond or across the sea“He lived overseas for many years”
- in a place across an ocean
- in a foreign country“markets abroad”“overseas markets”
- being or passing over or across the sea“some overseas trade in grain arose”
Where does overseas come from?
From earlier oversea, equivalent to oversea + -s.
Words that rhyme with overseas
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of overseas.
Questions about saying overseas
How do you pronounce overseas?
Say oh-ver-SEEZ. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈsiz/. In British English it is /əʊvəˈsiːz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overseas?
Overseas has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SEEZ). Broken into parts: oh · ver · SEEZ.
Is overseas 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 /əʊvəˈsiːz/ (oh-vuh-SEEZ).