English pronunciation · Words Starting with H
Handheld Pronunciation
Handheld is pronounced HAND-HELD, IPA /ˈhændˈhɛld/.
HAND-HELD
US /ˈhændˈhɛld/ · UK /ˈhændhɛld/
Syllables: HAND · HELD (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
adjective and noun: Small enough to be held and used in one hand.
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Handheld in a Sentence
- A handheld scanner reads the barcode at the door.
- The whole scene was shot handheld.
- He still keeps an old handheld games console in a drawer.
Common Mispronunciations of Handheld
Not HAN-held
Two d sounds meet in the middle and both belong there, even though the first is easy to swallow. Keep a little contact between hand and held so the compound stays audible.
Not hand-HELD
Compound adjectives like this one usually lead with the first element, so hand gets slightly more weight than held in ordinary speech.
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