How to pronounce overweight
Say it like oh-ver-WAYT. Overweight has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (WAYT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overweight. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- WAYT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overweight 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.
- WAYTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of overweight
- 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-WAYT.
What does overweight mean?
- usually describes a large person who is fat but has a large frame to carry it
- the property of excessive fatness
Where does overweight come from?
From over- + weight.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with overweight
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of overweight.
Questions about saying overweight
How do you pronounce overweight?
Say oh-ver-WAYT. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈweɪt/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈweɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overweight?
Overweight has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (WAYT). Broken into parts: oh · ver · WAYT.
Is overweight 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 /ˌəʊvəˈweɪt/ (oh-vuh-WAYT).