What is prophecy? Pronunciation and usage in English

prophecy means . Learn how to pronounce and use prophecy through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of prophecy

prophecynoun

/ˈprɒfəsi//ˈprɑːfəsi/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "prophecy" in English. It's a tricky one because it's not always pronounced exactly as it looks! Here's a breakdown:

1. General Pronunciation (Most Common):

  • proh-PHEE-see

Let's break that down further:

  • proh: Like "pro" in "problem" – a short, quick "uh" sound.
  • PHEE: This is the key part! It sounds like "fee" as in "feeble" but with a slightly more emphasized "ee" sound. It's not a long "ee" like in "see," but a shorter, sharper "ee."
  • see: Like the word "see."

2. Regional Variations (Less Common, but heard):

  • proh-PEE-see: Some people, particularly in the American South, pronounce the "phe" like "pee" (as in "pea").

Tips for Getting it Right:

  • Emphasis: The emphasis is primarily on the second syllable: PHEE.
  • Don’t over-emphasize the “P”: It’s a soft “p” sound, almost silent.
  • Listen to examples: The best way to learn is to hear it. Here are some resources:
    • Google Search: Search for "how to pronounce prophecy" on YouTube. You'll find many audio examples.
    • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/prophecy/ - This website lets you hear native speakers pronounce the word in different accents.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you located (roughly)? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia) – This helps me identify potential regional pronunciation variations.

Usage and examples with the word prophecy in English

Let's break down how to use the word "prophecy" effectively in English. It's a word with a rich history and specific connotations.

1. Core Meaning:

At its most basic, "prophecy" refers to:

  • A prediction of the future, especially one purporting to come from divine inspiration. This is the traditional and strongest meaning. Think of biblical prophecies about the end times, or predictions from oracles in ancient Greece.

2. Different Uses and Nuances:

  • Religious Prophecy: This is the most common and historically significant use. It specifically implies a prediction made by a religious figure (prophet, seer, oracle) believed to be guided by a god or higher power.

    • Example: "The prophet Isaiah delivered a prophecy warning of judgment upon the wicked."
    • Example: "The ancient texts are filled with prophecies about the return of the Messiah."

  • General Prediction (Less Formal): "Prophecy" can also be used more broadly to describe any strong or insightful prediction, even if it isn't tied to religion. It suggests a feeling of inevitability or a remarkable ability to foresee events.

    • Example: "The market analysts’ prophecy of a recession proved to be tragically accurate."
    • Example: "Some believe that technology will eventually lead to a dystopian future – a chilling prophecy."

  • Figurative/Literary Use: Writers often use "prophecy" to evoke a sense of fate, destiny, or impending doom. It adds depth and atmosphere.

    • Example: “A dark prophecy clung to the family, a legacy of misfortune across generations.”

3. Phrases and Related Words:

  • Give a prophecy: To make a prediction. "He gave a prophecy about the company’s success."
  • Prophetic: Describing something that seems to foreshadow the future. "Her words felt incredibly prophetic, as if she knew exactly what was going to happen."
  • Prophetic vision: A vivid and often symbolic dream or insight believed to be a prophecy.
  • Fulfillment of a prophecy: When a prediction comes true.

4. Important Considerations (Tone and Context):

  • Be cautious with religious connotations: If you're not writing about a religious topic, using "prophecy" can sound overly dramatic or even slightly pretentious. Consider if a more neutral word like "prediction" or "forecast" would be more appropriate.

  • Show, don’t just tell (for strong predictions): Instead of simply stating "He delivered a prophecy," consider showing the prediction and its impact. For example: “He spoke of a great fire consuming the city, and within a week, a devastating blaze swept through the old district.”

Here's a table summarizing the usage:

Usage Meaning Example
Religious Divine prediction; forecast by a prophet “The prophet warned of impending war.”
General Strong, insightful prediction “His prophecy about the stock market was right.”
Literary Foreshadowing fate; impending doom “A dark prophecy hung over the kingdom.”

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of writing are you doing? (e.g., fiction, non-fiction, academic, informal)
  • What is the context in which you want to use the word "prophecy"? (e.g., describing a historical event, introducing a character, creating a specific mood)

Synonyms for the word prophecy

Practice with vocabulary prophecy

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The ancient scrolls contained a cryptic ________ regarding the fall of a great empire.
  2. After weeks of intense negotiations, the international delegates finally reached a crucial ________ on climate policy.
  3. Many economists offered a dire ________ about the upcoming recession, which unfortunately proved accurate.
  4. Her remarkable ________ in the face of unexpected challenges allowed the project to stay on track.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which of the following terms refers to a prediction of future events, often attributed to divine inspiration or supernatural insight? A. hypothesis B. prophecy C. conjecture D. axiom E. forecast

  2. The CEO’s urgent address to the shareholders included a stark warning about the company’s future, feeling less like a strategic plan and more like a grim ________. A. mandate B. prognostication C. declaration D. prophecy E. edict

  3. The board’s unexpected ________ to divest from its struggling subsidiary surprised many investors. A. resolution B. consensus C. stipulation D. dictate

  4. Which sentences correctly use "prophecy" or a related concept in an appropriate context? A. The ancient text detailed a prophecy concerning the return of a mythical hero. B. Her insightful analysis was so accurate it felt almost prophetic, predicting market trends years in advance. C. The scientist formulated a prophecy to explain the observed phenomenon. D. The financial analyst made a compelling prophecy about the company's Q3 earnings.

  5. Despite extensive research, the team could only offer a tentative ________ about the newly discovered celestial body's composition, lacking definitive observational data. A. theorem B. axiom C. hypothesis D. doctrine

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The revered elder foretold a period of peace and prosperity for the community. (Start with: The revered elder delivered...)

  2. His early warnings about the potential for a global pandemic proved to be astonishingly accurate predictions. (Rewrite the sentence to include a word related to "prophecy".)

  3. The meteorologist predicted heavy rainfall and strong winds for the coastal regions this weekend. (Rewrite the sentence, replacing the word "predicted" with a suitable alternative.)

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. prophecy
  2. agreement
  3. prophecy
  4. resilience

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. B. prophecy, C. conjecture, E. forecast (While "prophecy" implies divine insight, "conjecture" and "forecast" can also refer to predictions, with "conjecture" often involving less certainty than "forecast" but fitting the broad category of future-event estimation.)
  2. B. prognostication, D. prophecy
  3. A. resolution
  4. A. The ancient text detailed a prophecy concerning the return of a mythical hero. B. Her insightful analysis was so accurate it felt almost prophetic, predicting market trends years in advance. D. The financial analyst made a compelling prophecy about the company's Q3 earnings. (While "forecast" is more common for financial predictions, "prophecy" can be used for a particularly strong, insightful, or even almost fated prediction, especially if it seems to go beyond typical analysis.)
  5. C. hypothesis

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The revered elder delivered a prophecy of a period of peace and prosperity for the community.
  2. His early warnings about the potential for a global pandemic proved to be astonishingly prophetic.
  3. The meteorologist forecasted heavy rainfall and strong winds for the coastal regions this weekend.

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