Which to use
“pródigo” and “próximo” are a confusable Portuguese pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #38,872
- “pródigo” frequency rank
- #610
- “próximo” frequency rank
- 39482
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | pródigo | próximo |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | diz-se de quem dissipa imoderadamente os próprios bens | que está perto |
Where the eye mixes pródigo and próximo
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 5 letters in sequence.
Visual trap between pródigo and próximo
A purely visual mix-up. pródigo (/ˈpɾɔ.di.ɡu/) and próximo (/ˈpɾɔ.si.mu/) 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 39482, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
pródigo is recorded at frequency rank #38,872, classified as anadj, pronounced /ˈpɾɔ.di.ɡu/. próximo is at rank #610, tagged as anadj, pronounced /ˈpɾɔ.si.mu/.
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 39482, this pair ranks #26,752 of 75,631 scored Portuguese 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 #26,752 of 75,631 scored Portuguese 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 provido". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #26,752 of 75,631 scored Portuguese pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.