How to pronounce overshorten
Say it like oh-ver-SHOR-tun. Overshorten has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SHOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overshorten. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- SHOR
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overshorten 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.
- SHORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of overshorten
- 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-SHAW-tun.
What does overshorten mean?
- To shorten too much; make excessively or inappropriately short.
Where does overshorten come from?
From over- + shorten.
Questions about saying overshorten
How do you pronounce overshorten?
Say oh-ver-SHOR-tun. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈʃɔrtən/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈʃɔːtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overshorten?
Overshorten has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SHOR). Broken into parts: oh · ver · SHOR · tun.
Is overshorten 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 /ˌəʊvəˈʃɔːtən/ (oh-vuh-SHAW-tun).