Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

self-handicap

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.60 in modern English

Syllables
self--hand-i-cap
IPA
23
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
5
Syllables
11
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To avoid making an effort, or to introduce deliberate obstacles to one's success, so as to prevent potential failure from hurting one's self-esteem.

Intransitive verb

noun

The act of one who self-handicaps, or an obstacle thus introduced.

Countable; Uncountable

Etymology

From self- + handicap.

Word Breakdown

Usage

Inflected Forms

self-handicaps (present, singular) self-handicapping (participle, present) self-handicapped (participle, past) self-handicapped (past) self-handicaps (plural)

Questions

What does self-handicap mean?
To avoid making an effort, or to introduce deliberate obstacles to one's success, so as to prevent potential failure from hurting one's self-esteem.
Where does self-handicap come from?
From self- + handicap.

How to pronounce self-handicap

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “self-handicap”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “self-handicap”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “self-handicap” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.