The word "overlap," when used as a verb, is pronounced with the primary stress on the second syllable.
The most common pronunciation for the verb overlap is:
- /ˌəʊvəˈlæp/
In this pronunciation:
- The 'o' at the beginning sounds like the 'oh' in "boat" (
/əʊ/). - The 'v' is pronounced as in "very" (
/v/). - The first 'e' is a schwa sound, like the 'a' in "about" (
/ə/). - The 'l' is pronounced as in "light" (
/l/). - The 'a' is a short 'a' sound, like the 'a' in "cat" (
/æ/). - The 'p' is pronounced as in "pen" (
/p/). - The stress falls strongly on the "lap" part (
ˈlæp). There is a secondary stress on the "o-" part (ˌəʊ).
Some variations in pronunciation exist, particularly regarding the 'r' sound, which is often heard in American English or when a vowel follows the 'r'.
Pronunciation of "Overlap" Verb Forms
Here is a breakdown of how different forms of the verb "overlap" are pronounced, including common variations:
| Verb Form | IPA (Common) | IPA (Variant) |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | ||
| I / you / we / they | /ˌəʊvəˈlæp/ | /ˌəʊvərˈlæp/ |
| he / she / it | /ˌəʊvəˈlæps/ | /ˌəʊvərˈlæps/ |
| Past Simple | /ˌəʊvəˈlæpt/ | /ˌəʊvərˈlæpt/ |
| Past Participle | /ˌəʊvəˈlæpt/ | /ˌəʊvərˈlæpt/ |
| -ing form | /ˌəʊvəˈlæpɪŋ/ | /ˌəʊvərˈlæpɪŋ/ |
The second IPA column, including /r/, often reflects rhotic accents, where the 'r' sound is pronounced. The first column reflects non-rhotic accents or instances where the 'r' is not pronounced. Both are widely understood and used.
