prodigal
pro·dig·al/ˈpɹɑdɪɡəl/adjective, noun
prodigal is spelled P-R-O-D-I-G-A-L: 8 letters and 3 syllables (pro·dig·al). It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 31,974th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, prodigal means “Wastefully extravagant” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in prodigal?
| Letters | 8: P-R-O-D-I-G-A-L |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: pro·dig·al |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 31,974th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is prodigal?
Prodigal appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 31,974th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce prodigal?
- UK /ˈpɹɒdɪɡəl/
- US /ˈpɹɑdɪɡəl/
- US [ˈpʰɹɑɾɪɡɫ̩]
Prodigal has 3 syllables, split pro·dig·al in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-prodigal.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of prodigal
- more prodigal comparative
- most prodigal superlative
- prodigals plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does prodigal mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Wastefully extravagant.
He found himself guilty of prodigal spending during the holidays.
- 2
Yielding profusely, lavish.
She was a merry person, glad and prodigal of smiles.
- 3
Profuse, lavishly abundant.
- 4
Having (selfishly) abandoned a person, group, or ideal.
- 5
Returning or having returned, especially repentantly, after such an abandonment.
noun
- 1
A prodigal person; a spendthrift; a wastrel.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Prodigal in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | prodigue |
| German | verschwenderisch , großzügig, freigebig , übermäßig, im Überfluß, in Hülle und Fülle |
| Portuguese | pródigo |
| Spanish | pródigo |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does prodigal come from?
From Middle French prodigal, from Late Latin prōdigālis (“wasteful”), from Latin prōdigus (“wasteful, lavish, prodigal”), from prōdigō (“to consume, squander, drive forth”), from prōd- [from prō (“before, forward”)] + agō (“to drive”). Also see unrelated prodigy. The senses of "abandoning a person or cause" and "returning after abandonment" are by allusion to the New Testament story commonly called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son", Luke 15:11–32. See prodigal son.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).