How to pronounce oversee
Say it like OH-ver-see. Oversee 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 oversee. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- ver
- see
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oversee 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.
- seeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of oversee
- 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-SEE.
What does oversee mean?
- watch and direct“Who is overseeing this project?”
Where does oversee come from?
From Middle English overseen, ouverseen, from Old English ofersēon (“to observe, oversee; to overlook, neglect”), equivalent to over- + see.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying oversee
How do you pronounce oversee?
Say OH-ver-see. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊvɚˌsi/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈsiː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oversee?
Oversee has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · ver · see.
Is oversee pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 3. The British form is /ˌəʊvəˈsiː/ (oh-vuh-SEE).