noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈhændimæn/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:HH AE1 N D IY0 M AE2 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A person who does small tasks and odd jobs, especially building repairs and the like.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
Examples
I complained that the heat was not working, and the landlord sent the handyman to fix it.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: odd-job man
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To work as a handyman; to do odd jobs.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a man skilled in various odd jobs and other small tasks
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: jack of all trades, odd-job man
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: repairman, maintenance man, service man
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *handuz Proto-West Germanic *handu Old English hand Middle English hond English hand Proto-Germanic *-j-, *-ij- Proto-West Germanic *-i, *-ī Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English handy Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Middle English man Middle English -man English -man English handyman From handy + -man.
Across languages
Translations
38 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
момче за всичко
(momče za vsičko)
— man who does odd tasks
Chinese Mandarin:
勤雜工 /勤杂工
— man who does odd tasks
Chinese Mandarin:
雜務工 /杂务工
— man who does odd tasks
Czech:
údržbář
— man who does odd tasks
Danish:
altmuligmand
— man who does odd tasks
Dutch:
manusje-van-alles
— man who does odd tasks
Estonian:
meistrimees
— man who does odd tasks
Finnish:
yleismies
— man who does odd tasks
Finnish:
nikkari
— man who does odd tasks
French:
homme à tout faire
— man who does odd tasks
French:
bricoleur
— man who does odd tasks
German:
Mädchen für alles
— man who does odd tasks
German:
Heimwerker
— man who does odd tasks
German:
Hausmeister
— man who does odd tasks
German:
Handwerker
— man who does odd tasks
German:
Reparateur
— man who does odd tasks
German:
Handlanger
— man who does odd tasks
Hebrew:
תיקונצ׳יק
— man who does odd tasks
Italian:
tuttofare
— man who does odd tasks
Japanese:
便利屋
(benriya)
— man who does odd tasks
Kabuverdianu:
buldonhe
— man who does odd tasks
Norwegian Bokmål:
altmuligmann
— man who does odd tasks
Norwegian Nynorsk:
altmogelegmann
— man who does odd tasks
Occitan:
totòbra
— man who does odd tasks
Polish:
złota rączka
— man who does odd tasks
Polish:
majster-klepka
— man who does odd tasks
Portuguese:
faz-tudo
— man who does odd tasks
Russian:
умелец
(umelec)
— man who does odd tasks
Russian:
мастер на все руки
(master na vse ruki)
— man who does odd tasks
Russian:
разнорабочий
(raznorabočij)
— man who does odd tasks
Spanish:
manitas
— man who does odd tasks
Spanish:
todólogo
— man who does odd tasks
Spanish:
hacelotodo
— man who does odd tasks
Spanish:
mentolato
— man who does odd tasks
Spanish:
milusos
— man who does odd tasks
Swedish:
hantlangare
— man who does odd tasks
Turkish:
tamirci
— man who does odd tasks
Ottoman Turkish:
تعمیرجی
(taʼmirci)
— man who does odd tasks