prudent
pru·dent/ˈpɹu.dənt/adjective
prudent is spelled P-R-U-D-E-N-T: 7 letters and 2 syllables (pru·dent). It appears 2.6 times per million words in written English, the 16,896th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, prudent means “Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect in action, or in determining any line of conduct” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in prudent?
| Letters | 7: P-R-U-D-E-N-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: pru·dent |
| In writing | 2.6 times per million words; the 16,896th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
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); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is prudent?
Prudent appears 2.6 times per million words in written English, the 16,896th 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 prudent?
- UK /ˈpɹuː.dənt/
- US /ˈpɹu.dənt/
- Australia /ˈpɹʉː.dənt/
Prudent has 2 syllables, split pru·dent in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-prudent.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with prudent?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as prudent (/udənt/).
Spelled with the same letters in another order: uptrend.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of prudent
- more prudent comparative
- most prudent superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does prudent mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect in action, or in determining any line of conduct.
It is prudent to consult a physician before beginning any new exercise regimen.
- 2
Practically wise, judicious, shrewd.
His prudent career moves reliably brought him to the top.
- 3
Frugal; economical; not extravagant.
Only prudent expenditure may provide quality within a restrictive budget.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Prudent in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | umsichtig, vorsichtig |
| Portuguese | prudente |
| Spanish | prudente , criterioso, cauto |
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 prudent come from?
Inherited from Middle English prudent, from Old French prudent, from Latin prūdēns, contracted from prōvidēns (“foresight”) (English providence), the present participle of prōvideō (“to forsee; to provide for”). Unrelated to prude. Doublet of provident. Displaced native Old English glēaw.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).