How to pronounce overwhelming
Say it like oh-ver-WEL-ming. Overwhelming has four 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 overwhelming. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- WEL
- ming
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overwhelming 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.
- WELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- mingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of overwhelming
- 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-WEL-ming.
What does overwhelming mean?
- so strong as to be irresistible“an overpowering need for solitude”“the temptation to despair may become overwhelming”
- very strong; urgently felt“politics is his consuming passion”“overwhelming joy”
Where does overwhelming come from?
From overwhelm + -ing.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying overwhelming
How do you pronounce overwhelming?
Say oh-ver-WEL-ming. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈwɛlmɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overwhelming?
Overwhelming has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (WEL). Broken into parts: oh · ver · WEL · ming.
Is overwhelming 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 /ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋ/ (oh-vuh-WEL-ming).