How to pronounce overspecify
Say it like oh-ver-SPES-ih-fy. Overspecify has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SPES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overspecify. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- SPES
- ih
- fy
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overspecify 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.
- SPESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- fyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of overspecify
- 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-SPES-ih-fy.
What does overspecify mean?
- To specify in excessive detail.“The customer overspecified the requirements and now we're contractually required to build it this way. Does he think he's an engineer?”
- To specify excessive capability.“As usual the customer overspecified the requirements, it's like asking for a car that seats 20 and fits in a compact car's parking space.”
- To provide redundant or inconsistent information.“An overspecified truth table contains at least one decision that will never be executed because it is already specified in a previous decision...”
Where does overspecify come from?
From over- + specify.
Questions about saying overspecify
How do you pronounce overspecify?
Say oh-ver-SPES-ih-fy. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈspɛsɪˌfaɪ/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈspɛsɪˌfaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overspecify?
Overspecify has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SPES). Broken into parts: oh · ver · SPES · ih · fy.
Is overspecify 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 /ˌəʊvəˈspɛsɪˌfaɪ/ (oh-vuh-SPES-ih-fy).