How to pronounce handle
Say it like HAN-dul. Handle has two 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 handle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAN
- dul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Handle 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.
- dulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of handle
American and British speakers say handle in essentially the same way: /ˈhændəl/ in the US and /ˈhændəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAN-dul.
What does handle mean?
- be in charge of, act on, or dispose of“I can deal with this crew of workers”“This blender can't handle nuts”
- interact in a certain way“Do right by her”“Treat him with caution, please”
- act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression“This book deals with incest”“The course covered all of Western Civilization”
- the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it“he grabbed the hammer by the handle”“it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip”
Where does handle come from?
From Middle English handel, handle, from Old English handle (“handle”), from Proto-West Germanic *handulā (“handle”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with handle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of handle.
Questions about saying handle
How do you pronounce handle?
Say HAN-dul. The American pronunciation is /ˈhændəl/. In British English it is /ˈhændəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in handle?
Handle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAN). Broken into parts: HAN · dul.
Do Americans and Brits say handle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhændəl/ and the British form is /ˈhændəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.