How to pronounce overswell
Say it like oh-vers-WEL. Overswell has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (WEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overswell. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- vers
- WEL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overswell 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.
- versKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- WELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of overswell
- 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-vus-WEL.
What does overswell mean?
- To swell or rise above (something, especially the rim of a container, the sides of something hollow, etc.).“In some years the river overswells its banks, causing widespread flooding.”
- To cause (something) to be too swollen or large; to become too swollen or large.
- An excessive or sudden increase or flood (of something).
Where does overswell come from?
From over- + swell.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with overswell
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of overswell.
Questions about saying overswell
How do you pronounce overswell?
Say oh-vers-WEL. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚsˈwɛl/. In British English it is /əʊvəsˈwɛl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overswell?
Overswell has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (WEL). Broken into parts: oh · vers · WEL.
Is overswell 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 /əʊvəsˈwɛl/ (oh-vus-WEL).