How to pronounce profligacy
Say it like PRAH-flih-guh-see. Profligacy has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce profligacy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PRAH
- flih
- guh
- see
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Profligacy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PRAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- flihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- guhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- seeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of profligacy
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: PROF-lih-guh-see.
What does profligacy mean?
- Careless wastefulness.
- Shameless and immoral behavior.
Where does profligacy come from?
From proflig(ate) + -acy (with -acy a suffixal construction from -ate + -cy), from Latin prōflīgātus, past participle of Latin prōflīgō, from prō- (“forward”) + flīgō (“to strike, dash”) (whence pro-).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying profligacy
How do you pronounce profligacy?
Say PRAH-flih-guh-see. The American pronunciation is /ˈprɑflɪɡəsi/. In British English it is /ˈprɒflɪɡəsi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in profligacy?
Profligacy has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRAH). Broken into parts: PRAH · flih · guh · see.
Is profligacy pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈprɒflɪɡəsi/ (PROF-lih-guh-see).