How to pronounce handling
Say it like HAND-ling. Handling 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 handling. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAND
- ling
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Handling 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.
- lingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of handling
American and British speakers say handling in essentially the same way: /ˈhændlɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈhændlɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAND-ling.
What does handling mean?
- manual (or mechanical) carrying or moving or delivering or working with something
- the action of touching with the hands (or the skillful use of the hands) or by the use of mechanical means
- the management of someone or something“the handling of prisoners”“the treatment of water sewage”
Where does handling come from?
From Middle English handlinge, hondlunge, from Old English handlung (“handling”), equivalent to handle + -ing.
Questions about saying handling
How do you pronounce handling?
Say HAND-ling. The American pronunciation is /ˈhændlɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈhændlɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in handling?
Handling has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAND). Broken into parts: HAND · ling.
Do Americans and Brits say handling the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhændlɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈhændlɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.