How to pronounce handy
Say it like HAN-dee. Handy 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 handy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HAN
- dee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Handy 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.
American vs British pronunciation of handy
American and British speakers say handy in essentially the same way: /ˈhændi/ in the US and /ˈhændi/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAN-dee.
What does handy mean?
- easy to reach“found a handy spot for the can opener”
- useful and convenient“a handy gadget”
- skillful with the hands“handy with an axe”
- United States blues musician who transcribed and published traditional blues music (1873-1958)
Where does handy come from?
From Middle English handy, hondi (attested in personal names), alteration of earlier hendi (“handy, skillful”), from Old English *hendiġ (“skillful”) (attested in listhendiġ (“skilled in art”)), from Proto-West Germanic *handīg, *handag, *h
Words that rhyme with handy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of handy.
Questions about saying handy
How do you pronounce handy?
Say HAN-dee. The American pronunciation is /ˈhændi/. In British English it is /ˈhændi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in handy?
Handy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HAN). Broken into parts: HAN · dee.
Do Americans and Brits say handy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhændi/ and the British form is /ˈhændi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.