How to pronounce overwork
Say it like oh-ver-WURK. Overwork has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (WURK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overwork. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- WURK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overwork 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.
- WURKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of overwork
- 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-WURK.
What does overwork mean?
- To make (someone or something) work too hard.“to overwork a horse”
- To work too hard.
- To fill too full of work; to crowd with labor.
- A superstructure.
- Excessive work.
Where does overwork come from?
From Middle English overwerken, possibly from Old English oferwyrċan (“to overwork, overlay”), equivalent to over- + work.
Words that rhyme with overwork
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of overwork.
Questions about saying overwork
How do you pronounce overwork?
Say oh-ver-WURK. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈwɝk/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈwɜːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overwork?
Overwork has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (WURK). Broken into parts: oh · ver · WURK.
Is overwork 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 /ˌəʊvəˈwɜːk/ (oh-vuh-WURK).