Is handball in the Olympics?

Yes, team handball (the indoor court sport) has been a permanent part of the Summer Olympics since 1972.

What's the difference between American and European handball?

American handball is typically a one-to-four player game played on a walled court. European (or Olympic) handball is a seven-a-side team sport played on a large indoor court with goals.

In soccer, is every hand contact a handball foul?

No. According to the Laws of the Game, it is only an offence if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, or if their hand/arm is in an unnatural position making their body unnaturally bigger.

Can 'handball' be used as a verb?

Yes, especially in football contexts (e.g., 'He handballed it') and in American English for playing the wall game (e.g., 'We handballed for hours').

handball

UK/ˈhænd.bɔːl/US/ˈhænd.bɑːl/

Neutral, but predominantly used in sporting contexts.

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A team sport in which players use their hands to throw a ball into the opposing team's goal.

The act of illegally touching the ball with the hand or arm in association football (soccer), resulting in a free kick or penalty. Also, a ball used in the sport of handball.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The primary meaning differs by geographical region. In the US, it often refers to a court game played against a wall. In Europe and globally, it primarily refers to the Olympic team sport. The football (soccer) infringement meaning is common worldwide.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

In the UK, 'handball' primarily means the Olympic team sport or the football infringement. In the US, it more commonly refers to a game where players hit a small ball against a wall with their hand (similar to squash but with hands), or a schoolyard game involving throwing a ball at players.

Connotations

UK/International: Associated with professional indoor sport and football rules. US: Often associated with recreational, schoolyard, or fitness activities.

Frequency

The team sport sense is far more frequent in UK/international English. The wall-game sense is more frequent in American English.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

play handballhandball courthandball playerteam handballpenalty for handball

medium

professional handballindoor handballhandball matchhandball leagueaccidental handball

weak

fast-paced handballOlympic handballhandball coachcompetitive handball

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[Subject] plays handball[Referee] gave a handball[Player] was penalised for handball

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

(football) handling(US) wallball

Neutral

team handballOlympic handballEuropean handball

Weak

court gameball sport

Vocabulary

Antonyms

football (soccer) - using feetvolleyballfair play (in soccer context)

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“[No common idioms for 'handball']”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Rare, except in sports management, sponsorship, or broadcasting.

Academic

Used in sports science, kinesiology, and studies of sport history/rules.

Everyday

Common in discussions about sports, watching football, or school activities.

Technical

Specific to sports coaching, rulebooks (FIFA, IHF), and match commentary.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

The defender clearly handballed it in the penalty area.
He was sent off for handballing deliberately.

American English

We used to handball against the school wall every recess.

adverb

British English

[No standard adverbial use]

American English

[No standard adverbial use]

adjective

British English

The handball federation set new rules.
He is a handball enthusiast.

American English

The handball courts are located near the gym.

Examples

By CEFR Level

The children play handball in PE class.
The referee said it was handball.

Germany has a very strong handball team.
Was that a deliberate handball in the box?

The controversy centred on whether the handball was intentional, as per the new FIFA guidelines.
She took up handball professionally after excelling at university level.

The athlete's transition from basketball to handball was facilitated by her exceptional spatial awareness and throwing accuracy.
The handball ruling was contentious, with pundits arguing it undermined the flow of the game.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

HAND + BALL: You use your HAND to hit or throw a BALL. Remember, in soccer it's usually illegal to use your hand!

Conceptual Metaphor

[Not strongly metaphorical] The sport is sometimes described as 'water polo on land' due to similar movement patterns.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

In Russian, 'гандбол' (gandbol) refers specifically to the Olympic team sport. The soccer infringement is 'игра рукой' (igra rukoy). The American wall game may not have a direct equivalent.

Common Mistakes

Using 'handball' to mean 'volleyball'. Confusing the sport with 'baseball' or 'basketball' due to the '-ball' suffix.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The player was shown a yellow card for a deliberate inside his own penalty area.

Multiple Choice

In American English, 'handball' most commonly refers to:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes, team handball (the indoor court sport) has been a permanent part of the Summer Olympics since 1972.
: American handball is typically a one-to-four player game played on a walled court. European (or Olympic) handball is a seven-a-side team sport played on a large indoor court with goals.
: No. According to the Laws of the Game, it is only an offence if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, or if their hand/arm is in an unnatural position making their body unnaturally bigger.
: Yes, especially in football contexts (e.g., 'He handballed it') and in American English for playing the wall game (e.g., 'We handballed for hours').