How to pronounce handsome
Say it like HAN-sum. Handsome 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 handsome. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAN
- sum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Handsome 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.
- sumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of handsome
American and British speakers say handsome in essentially the same way: /ˈhænsəm/ in the US and /ˈhænsəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAN-sum.
What does handsome mean?
- pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion“a fine-looking woman”“a good-looking man”
- given or giving freely“was a big tipper”“the bounteous goodness of God”
Where does handsome come from?
From Middle English handsum, hondsom, equivalent to hand + -some.
Words that rhyme with handsome
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of handsome.
Questions about saying handsome
How do you pronounce handsome?
Say HAN-sum. The American pronunciation is /ˈhænsəm/. In British English it is /ˈhænsəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in handsome?
Handsome has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAN). Broken into parts: HAN · sum.
Do Americans and Brits say handsome the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhænsəm/ and the British form is /ˈhænsəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.