Which to use
“pródigo” and “próximo” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #41,566
- “pródigo” frequency rank
- #1,180
- “próximo” frequency rank
- 42746
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | pródigo | próximo |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Que desperdicia y consume los bienes y caudal propios sin medida y de modo insensato. | Que está cerca, temporal o espacialmente. |
Where the eye mixes pródigo and próximo
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 5 letters in sequence. pródigo and próximo follow the identical consonant-vowel pattern (CCVCVCV). Same shape at a glance is often the real trap, independent of shared letters.
Visual trap between pródigo and próximo
A purely visual mix-up. pródigo ([ˈpɾoð̞iɣ̞o]) and próximo ([ˈpɾoksimo]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 42746, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
pródigo is recorded at frequency rank #41,566, classified as anadj, pronounced [ˈpɾoð̞iɣ̞o]. próximo is at rank #1,180, tagged as anadj, pronounced [ˈpɾoksimo].
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 42746, this pair ranks #146,519 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of pródigo vs próximo
Shared letters: iopró. Private to "pródigo": dg. Private to "próximo": mx.
"pródigo" · 7 letters · shape CCVCVCV · "próximo" · 7 letters · shape CCVCVCV
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "pródigo" and "próximo" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "pródigo" or "próximo"?
After this comparison
Visual near-miss handled. Browse the word pages or a neighbour when the next look-alike shows up.
- Full dictionary entry for "pródigo" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "próximo" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #146,519 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "pródigo" and "próximo" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "pródigo vs prolijo". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #146,519 of 323,831 scored Spanish pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.