proselytize
/ˈpɹɑ.sə.lɪ.taɪz/verb
proselytize is spelled P-R-O-S-E-L-Y-T-I-Z-E: 11 letters and 4 syllables. It appears about once in every 9 million words in written English, the 91,522nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, proselytize means “To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in proselytize?
| Letters | 11: P-R-O-S-E-L-Y-T-I-Z-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 9 million words; the 91,522nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is proselytize?
Proselytize appears about once in every 9 million words in written English, the 91,522nd 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 proselytize?
- UK /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/
- UK /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ə.taɪz/
- US /ˈpɹɑ.sə.lɪ.taɪz/
Proselytize has 4 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-proselytize.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of proselytize
- proselytizes present, singular, he/she/it
- proselytizing participle, present
- proselytized participle, past
- proselytise
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does proselytize mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so.
It is illegal to proselytize [children] in some countries
- 2
To coerce into religious conversion.
- 3
To advertise a non-religious belief, way of living, cause, point of view, (scientific) hypothesis, social or other position, political party, or other organization; to convince someone to join such a cause or organization or support such a position; to recruit someone.
He has strong political views, and an annoying habit of proselytizing at parties.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Proselytize in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | prosélytiser |
| German | bekehren, missionieren, seinen Glauben predigen, seinen Glauben verkünden , überzeugen |
| Portuguese | converter , proselitizar, proselitar |
| Spanish | misionar, catequizar, proselitizar |
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 proselytize come from?
From proselyte + -ize.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).