handphone
LowInformal, somewhat dated
Definition
Meaning
A portable telephone that can be held in the hand.
A general term for a mobile/cellular phone, especially one that is held to the ear. The term is now somewhat dated.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term 'handphone' is used predominantly in Southeast Asian English (e.g., Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia). It is understood but less common in British and American English, where 'mobile phone' or 'cell phone' are standard. It strongly connotes the original form factor of a device held to the ear, as opposed to modern smartphones.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In both British and American English, 'handphone' is a non-standard term. The standard British term is 'mobile phone' (or informally 'mobile'). The standard American term is 'cell phone' (or 'cellular phone'). 'Handphone' is recognised as a Southeast Asian regionalism.
Connotations
In British/American usage, 'handphone' sounds dated, foreign, or technical. It may bring to mind early cordless landline handsets rather than modern mobile devices.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both British and American English corpora. Its use by a native speaker would be marked as an unusual regionalism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
She has a handphone.He answered his handphone.Please turn off your handphone.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “chained to your handphone”
- “handphone junkie”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used. In formal business contexts, 'mobile device' or 'company mobile' is preferred.
Academic
Not used. 'Mobile phone' is the standard term in research.
Everyday
Used primarily in informal conversation in Southeast Asia. Elsewhere, it may cause minor confusion.
Technical
Sometimes found in older technical manuals to distinguish a cordless handset from a base unit.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He tried to handphone her, but the signal was poor. (Very rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The handphone industry has changed dramatically. (Non-standard)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is my handphone.
- I call my mum on my handphone.
- I left my handphone at home today.
- Can I borrow your handphone to make a quick call?
- The old handphone she used only worked for calls and texts.
- In some countries, you top up credit for your handphone.
- The term 'handphone' is a linguistic relic, evoking the early days of personal telecommunications.
- While 'smartphone' has subsumed its function, the regionalism 'handphone' persists in certain dialects.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PHONE you hold in your HAND. HAND + PHONE = HANDPHONE.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TOOL/EXTENSION OF THE HAND (emphasising portability and personal control).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation from Russian 'ручной телефон' (ruchnoy telefon) is not idiomatic in British or American English.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'handphone' in formal writing or in the UK/US where it is not standard.
- Confusing it with 'handset' (which is just the part of a landline you hold).
Practice
Quiz
In which regional variety of English is 'handphone' a common, standard term?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is correct as a regional English term, specifically in Southeast Asian varieties like Singaporean and Malaysian English. It is not the standard term in British or American English.
A 'handphone' is a general term for a portable phone, often implying basic functionality. A 'smartphone' is a specific type of advanced mobile phone with a touchscreen, apps, and internet capabilities. All smartphones are handphones, but not all handphones are smartphones.
The term never became standard in the UK. The technology was marketed and lexicalised as the 'mobile phone' (shortened to 'mobile'), focusing on its mobility rather than how it's held.
It's best to avoid it. Use the standard international terms 'mobile phone' (preferred in the UK/IELTS context) or 'cell phone'. Using 'handphone' might be marked as a non-standard lexical item.