How to pronounce profligate
Say it like PRAH-flih-gut. Profligate has three 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 profligate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PRAH
- flih
- gut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Profligate 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.
- gutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of profligate
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: PROF-lih-gut.
What does profligate mean?
- An abandoned person; one openly and shamelessly vicious; a dissolute person.
- An overly wasteful or extravagant individual.
- Inclined to waste resources or behave extravagantly.
- Immoral; abandoned to vice.
- Overthrown, ruined.
Where does profligate come from?
The adjective is first attested in 1535, the verb in 1542; borrowed from Latin prōflīgātus, perfect passive participle of prōflīgō (“to strike down, cast down”) (see -ate (etymology 1, 2 an 3) and pro-), from prō- (“forward”) + flīgō (“to s
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying profligate
How do you pronounce profligate?
Say PRAH-flih-gut. The American pronunciation is /ˈprɑflɪɡət/. In British English it is /ˈprɒflɪɡət/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in profligate?
Profligate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRAH). Broken into parts: PRAH · flih · gut.
Is profligate 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 /ˈprɒflɪɡət/ (PROF-lih-gut).