French Conversation · Level 3
88 words
French word
handicap
Pronunciation
IPA/ɑ̃dikap/
Meaning
- masculine noundisadvantage
Example
Son manque d'expérience est un handicap pour le poste.
His lack of experience is a disadvantage for the job.
More examples
Elle vit avec un handicap au quotidien.
She lives with an impairment every day.
Core concept
A weight or barrier that limits access to the same opportunities and leaves someone at a disadvantage.
Common phrases
avoir un handicap
to be at a disadvantage
vivre avec un handicap
to live with an impairment
handicap social
social disadvantage
Similar words
désavantage: An unfavorable situation caused by having fewer advantages.
inconvénient: A feature that makes daily life or use less convenient.
Definition in French
Situation qui entrave l'accès aux mêmes chances que les autres et qui rend la position d'une personne moins favorable.
Word origin
The French noun handicap was borrowed from English in the nineteenth century, whose word came from the phrase 'hand in cap' for a trading game and later named a sporting disadvantage.
Usage tips
- Handicap is masculine, so the standard article is un handicap.
Other meanings
- disabilitynoun
- obstaclenoun
Related words
- handicapédisabledadjective
- handicaperdisadvantageverb