How to pronounce handicap
Say it like HAN-dee-kap. Handicap has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce handicap. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAN
- dee
- kap
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Handicap pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- kapGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of handicap
American and British speakers say handicap in essentially the same way: /ˈhændiˌkæp/ in the US and /ˈhændɪˌkæp/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAN-dih-kap.
What does handicap mean?
- the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness“reading disability”“hearing impairment”
- advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning
- something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
- injure permanently“He was disabled in a car accident”
- attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race) and assign odds for or against a contestant
- put at a disadvantage“The brace I have to wear is hindering my movements”
Where does handicap come from?
From hand-in-cap, in reference to holding the game stakes in a cap.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying handicap
How do you pronounce handicap?
Say HAN-dee-kap. The American pronunciation is /ˈhændiˌkæp/. In British English it is /ˈhændɪˌkæp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in handicap?
Handicap has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAN). Broken into parts: HAN · dee · kap.
Do Americans and Brits say handicap the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhændiˌkæp/ and the British form is /ˈhændɪˌkæp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.