How to pronounce profanity
Say it like proh-FAN-uh-tee. Profanity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce profanity. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- proh
- FAN
- uh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Profanity pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- FANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of profanity
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: pruh-FAN-ih-tee.
What does profanity mean?
- The quality of being profane; quality of irreverence, of treating sacred things with contempt.
- Obscene, lewd or abusive language.“He ran up and down the street screaming profanities like a madman.”
Where does profanity come from?
Borrowed from Latin profānitās.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with profanity
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of profanity.
Questions about saying profanity
How do you pronounce profanity?
Say proh-FAN-uh-tee. The American pronunciation is /proʊˈfænəti/. In British English it is /prəˈfænɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in profanity?
Profanity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAN). Broken into parts: proh · FAN · uh · tee.
Is profanity pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /prəˈfænɪti/ (pruh-FAN-ih-tee).