How to pronounce handbag
Say it like HAND-bag. Handbag has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce handbag. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAND
- bag
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Handbag pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HANDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- bagGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of handbag
American and British speakers say handbag in essentially the same way: /ˈhændˌbæɡ/ in the US and /ˈhændˌbæɡ/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAND-bag.
What does handbag mean?
- A small bag used chiefly by women for carrying various small personal items, sometimes considered as a fashion accessory.
- To attack verbally or subject to criticism (typically used of a woman).
Where does handbag come from?
From hand + bag. The music genre is named from women dancing around a pile of their handbags in nightclubs.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with handbag
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of handbag.
Questions about saying handbag
How do you pronounce handbag?
Say HAND-bag. The American pronunciation is /ˈhændˌbæɡ/. In British English it is /ˈhændˌbæɡ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in handbag?
Handbag has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAND). Broken into parts: HAND · bag.
Do Americans and Brits say handbag the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhændˌbæɡ/ and the British form is /ˈhændˌbæɡ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.