How to pronounce overzealous
Say it like oh-ver-ZEL-us. Overzealous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (ZEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overzealous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- ZEL
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overzealous 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.
- ZELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of overzealous
- 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-ZEL-us.
What does overzealous mean?
- Too zealous; too enthusiastic or fervent.“With his overzealous attempts to impress, he only managed to annoy her.”
Where does overzealous come from?
From over- + zealous.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with overzealous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of overzealous.
Questions about saying overzealous
How do you pronounce overzealous?
Say oh-ver-ZEL-us. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈzɛləs/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈzɛləs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overzealous?
Overzealous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (ZEL). Broken into parts: oh · ver · ZEL · us.
Is overzealous 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 /ˌəʊvəˈzɛləs/ (oh-vuh-ZEL-us).