How to pronounce oversight
Say it like OH-ver-syte. Oversight 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 oversight. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- ver
- syte
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oversight 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.
- syteGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of oversight
- 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-syte.
What does oversight mean?
- an unintentional omission resulting from failure to notice something
- management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group
- a mistake resulting from inattention
Where does oversight come from?
From over- + sight. Verb sense 2 is a semantic loan from German Aufsicht.
Questions about saying oversight
How do you pronounce oversight?
Say OH-ver-syte. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊvɚˌsaɪt/. In British English it is /ˈəʊvəˌsaɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oversight?
Oversight has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · ver · syte.
Is oversight 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 /ˈəʊvəˌsaɪt/ (OH-vuh-syte).