How to pronounce "overboard"

overboard

Noun
American
/ˈoʊvərˌbɔrd/

Syllable Breakdown

o ver board

How natives say overboard

British
/ˈəʊvəbɔːd/

Syllable Breakdown

o ver board

How natives say overboard

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Begin with the 'o' sound as in 'go'.

  • Add the 'ver' with a schwa sound in the middle (sounds like 'vur').

  • End with 'board', making sure to stress the 'or' as in 'for'.

Common Mistakes

  • ov-er-board (incorrect stress on 'er')

  • o-ver-bo-red (incorrect vowel sound in 'board')

  • o-vur-bored (mispronouncing 'over')

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with 'o' as in 'go', but more rounded.

  • Continue with 'ver' using a schwa in the middle.

  • End with 'board', focusing on a longer 'or' sound.

common mistakes

  • ov-er-bawd (wrong stress)

  • o-va-board (misusing vowel sounds)

  • o-ver-board (incorrect schwa usage)

FAQ

Is the 'r' in 'board' pronounced?

In American English, yes. In British English, it's often softer.

Where is the stress in 'overboard'?

The stress is on the first syllable, 'o'.

How do the vowel sounds differ between AmE and BrE?

AmE uses /oʊ/ while BrE uses /əʊ/ for the initial vowel.

Definition

overboard

Fall into water from a ship or boat.

Word Family

over

/ˈoʊvər/

preposition

Above or more than

Example: The plane flew over the city.

board

/bɔrd/

noun

A flat piece of wood

Example: He used a board to fix the fence.

oversee

/ˌoʊvərˈsiː/

verb

Supervise someone

Example: She will oversee the project.

Key Pronunciation Differences

Stress pattern differs from 'over'.

Longer vowel sound in 'board'.

Schwa sound in 'over' not present in 'oversee'.

Pro Tips

Use mirror practice

Watch your mouth in the mirror to ensure you're shaping vowels correctly.

Slow it down

Break the word into parts and practice each slowly before speeding up.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Overboard

adjoin

/əˈdʒɔɪn/

apartment

/əˈpɑrt.mənt/

applicable

/ˈæplɪkəbl̩/

arise

/əˈraɪz/

avenue

/ˈæv.ə.nuː/

backstage

/bækˈsteɪdʒ/

bench

/bɛntʃ/

beside

/bɪˈsaɪd/