prodigy

/ˈpɹɒdɪd͡ʒi/

//ˈpɹɒdɪd͡ʒi// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"prodigy" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“prodigy” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #21,031. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#21,031
frequency rank, English
4,417
“P” headwords
11
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - An extraordinary occurrence or creature; an anomaly, especially a monster; a freak.

Corpus desk

Index EN-prodigy · prodigy · English

prodigy · rank #21,031 · 11 variants · 1 confusable

  • FREQ-MID #21,031
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 1 pairs
  • VAR-MID 11 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,417
  • PHOTO-FINISH prod

Nearest frequency peer: prod (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “prodigy”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “prodigy” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

prodigy vs prodigal
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for prodigy
PropertyValue
Headwordprodigy
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɹɒdɪd͡ʒi/
Letters7
Frequency rank#21,031
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “prodigy”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).prodigylands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “prod” (#21,030), “psychotherapy” (#21,034), “platter” (#21,026). Among 4,417 “P” headwords, “prodigy” is #21,031. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around prodigy (IPA /ˈpɹɒdɪd͡ʒi/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #21,031 among 4,417 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for prodigy, with forms such as "pordigy", "pprodigy", and "prdoigy". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "prodigal", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English prodige (“portent”), from Latin prōdigium (“omen, portent, prophetic sign”). The correct English form is prodigy, spelled P-R-O-D-I-G-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    An extraordinary occurrence or creature; an anomaly, especially a monster; a freak.
  2. 2
    An amazing or marvellous thing; a wonder.
  3. 3
    A wonderful example of something.
  4. 4
    An extremely talented person, especially a child.
  5. 5
    An extraordinary thing seen as an omen; a portent.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how prodigy appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. He is never chased; he would run away with rope-walks of line. Prodigies are told of him.
  2. Traffic at Dover Marine has developed far beyond anything envisaged when the station was built. The layout has become rather cramped, and prodigies of organisation are performed annually by all concerned to save complete saturation.

Etymology

From Middle English prodige (“portent”), from Latin prōdigium (“omen, portent, prophetic sign”).

Synonyms

wunderkindgirl wondergirl-geniusboy-geniusboy wonderchild prodigy

This word in other languages

maravilla(Español)prodige(Français)Wunder(Deutsch)maravilha(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • pordigy
  • pprodigy
  • prdoigy
  • proddigy
  • prodgiy
  • prodiggy
  • prodigyy
  • prodiyg
  • proidgy
  • prrodigy
  • rpodigy

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of prodigy - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

pordigy2pprodigy1prdoigy2proddigy1prodgiy2prodiggy1prodigyy1prodiyg2
Edit distance from "prodigy"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "prodigy"?
"prodigy" is spelled P-R-O-D-I-G-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɹɒdɪd͡ʒi/.
What does "prodigy" mean?
As a noun, "prodigy" means: An extraordinary occurrence or creature; an anomaly, especially a monster; a freak.
What words are commonly confused with "prodigy"?
"prodigy" is commonly confused with "prodigal". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "prodigy"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "prodigy" is /ˈpɹɒdɪd͡ʒi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "prodigy"?
From Middle English prodige (“portent”), from Latin prōdigium (“omen, portent, prophetic sign”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "prodigy", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

platter#21,026rapping#21,041realtor#21,042oversaw#21,018

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (11 here; floor ≥5).

regency11 variantsOlympus11 variantsrowling11 variantssharper11 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list