3 syllables: o, ver, board. Stress on o.
OH-vur-bawrd
/ˈoʊvɚˌbɔɹd/
overboard is pronounced OH-vur-bawrd (/ˈoʊvɚˌbɔɹd/). It has three syllables (o-ver-board), with the stress on "o". Overboard is an adjective or adverb describing excessive or beyond what is reasonable, often used about actions, investments, or behavior. It also refers to tipping or throwing something over the edge or side of a vessel. In use, it conveys going beyond prudent limits or safety, sometimes with a sense of recklessness or extreme enthusiasm.
Overboard is an adjective or adverb describing excessive or beyond what is reasonable, often used about actions, investments, or behavior. It also refers to tipping or throwing something over the edge or side of a vessel. In use, it conveys going beyond prudent limits or safety, sometimes with a sense of recklessness or extreme enthusiasm.
"The captain warned against going overboard with risky maneuvers."
"Her praise might seem overboard, but the team appreciated the encouragement."
"They went overboard decorating for the party, covering every surface."
Pronounce as /ˌoʊ.vɚˈbɔːrd/ in US, /ˌəʊ.vəˈbɔːd/ in UK, and /ˌəʊ.vəˈbɔːd/ in AU. The secondary stress falls on the second syllable, with a clear, boxed final /bɔːd/ or /bɔːd/. Start with a diphthong /oʊ/ or /əʊ/, then a schwa or reduced vowel /ɚ/ before the stressed /bɔːd/. The emphasis lands on the final syllable, so give it a crisp, long /ɔːd/ sound. Listen for the lilting, slightly rounded lips on the /oʊ/ and a smoother, rhotic or non-rhotic r depending on accent. Audio reference: consider Practicing with Cambridge or Forvo entries for /ˌoʊ.vɚˈbɔːrd/.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (putting emphasis on the first syllable oʊ- instead of -bɔːrd), pronouncing the final as /bɔːr/ without the final /d/, and misusing a tense /ɚ/ in the US variant. Corrective tips: keep main stress on the final syllable /bɔːrd/ with clear /ɔː/ and release the final /d/ crisply; use a full /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in the first syllable and avoid a flat, clipped /o/. Practice with minimal pairs to reinforce final consonant clarity and ensure the mid-syllable /ɚ/ reduces appropriately in US contexts.
US: stronger rhotic /ɚ/ in the second syllable and a pronounced /ɔː/ in the final syllable, with /ˌoʊ/ first syllable. UK/AU: more non-rhotic r; final /d/ remains clear, with /ɔː/ as a long vowel and /ə/ in the second syllable depending on the speaker; AU often keeps a rounded /ɔː/ and may have a slightly longer /ɔː/ before final /d/. The rhythm is similar, but US tends to compress the middle vowel more and emphasize the final /d/.
The difficulty lies in coordinating the final stressed syllable /bɔːrd/ with the preceding /ɚ/ or /ə/ in the middle, especially when the /ɚ/ is reduced in fast speech. Non-native speakers often misplace stress, treat /bɔːrd/ as /bɔːr/ by dropping the final /d/, or merge the second syllable with the first. Focus on crisp final /d/ and a controlled nucleus in the second syllable, maintaining the two-morpheme rhythm: oʊ-vər-BOARD. IPA cues help anchor the precise vowel lengths and rhoticity in American usage.
A key feature is the clear, secondary stress on the final syllable with a prominent /ɔː/ vowel and release on /d/. The diachronic shift from literal nautical action to idiomatic excess also means you’ll often encounter it in figurative contexts; keep the phonetic emphasis on the termination -board rather than a trailing, trailing sound. Practically, maintain a full /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in the first syllable, a mid-centralized /ɚ/ in the second, then a strong /bɔːd/ at the end for natural speech.
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Overboard derives from the nautical phrase over board, literally meaning to throw something over the side of a ship. Historically connected to maritime language, authorities first used the term in English maritime contexts to indicate actions done beyond the ship’s rails, risking life or property. The compound suggests a literal motion: to throw something past the gunwale (the upper edge of a ship’s side) into the water. Over time, the meaning broadened from a physical action on a vessel to metaphorical excess in behavior or decisions—going beyond prudent limits, often with a sense of reckless enthusiasm. The term stabilized in the 18th and 19th centuries, appearing in literature and journalism in both nautical and figurative senses. By the 20th century, overboard had become a common idiom in general English, used in contexts ranging from budgeting and decorating to praise and risk-taking. The evolution reflects a shift from concrete maritime action to a figurative expression for excess or overzealousness in everyday life.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "overboard" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "overboard" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "overboard"
-ord sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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