French word

prodige

Pronunciation

IPA/pʁodiʒ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounprodigy

Example

Le prodige a seulement dix ans.

The prodigy is only ten years old.

Illustration for prodige (prodigy)

More examples

Le prodige attire l'attention nationale.

The prodigy attracts national attention.

Core concept

A very young person whose extraordinary ability astonishes everyone around them.

Common phrases

  • un prodige de la musique

    a musical prodigy

  • jeune prodige

    a young prodigy

  • un prodige du sport

    a sports prodigy

Similar words

génie: A person with exceptional intelligence or creativity who produces extraordinary achievements.
surdoué: A person with far above-average intelligence who learns and understands unusually quickly.
talent: A person with outstanding natural or developed ability in a particular field.
phénomène: A person or event that attracts intense attention through extraordinary ability or qualities.

Definition in French

Personne qui étonne par des capacités intellectuelles ou artistiques hors du commun, souvent dès l'enfance.

Word origin

French prodige comes from Latin prodigium, meaning an extraordinary sign or marvel, and developed through Old French toward the sense of an exceptional person.

Usage tips

  • Prodige is a strongly admiring word, so it can sound exaggerated when used for an ordinary talented child.

Other meanings

  • marvelnoun

Opposites

  • médiocritémediocritynoun

Related words

  • prodigieuxprodigiousadjective
  • prodigieusementprodigiouslyadverb

Word lists with this word