Profane (adj.) describes language or actions that are insulting, obscene, or disrespectful toward what is sacred or held in reverence. It can also mean to treat something sacred with disdain or to violate or desecrate a holy object or place. In everyday use, it often signals casual or coarse language that clashes with formal or solemn contexts.
- US: practice with rhotic influence; allow /r/ to color the onset if next with a vowel, especially in connected speech. - UK: keep non-rhoticity; omit /r/ in all coda positions; emphasize /əʊ/ variant of /oʊ/ if adopting RP; keep /feɪn/ crisp. - AU: typically non-rhotic like UK but vowels can be broader; maintain /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/ distinction by focusing on rounding and gliding. - Vowels: focus on the /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK/AU); second syllable uses /feɪn/ with a stable /eɪ/. - Consonants: make /f/ aspirated, avoid voicing the /f/; keep /n/ at the end light but firm. - IPA references: US /ˈproʊ.feɪn/, UK /ˈprəʊ.feɪn/, AU /ˈprəʊ.feɪn/.
"The comedian’s profane jokes bordered on crude and offensive for a family audience."
"Some religious texts warn against profane talk that undermines moral standards."
"Her profane remarks shocked the audience at the formal ceremony."
"The graffiti was profane and targeted the city’s most respected monuments."
Profane comes from Middle English profainen, from Old French profaner, from Latin profanus meaning 'outside the temple,' from pro- 'before' + fanum 'temple.' The original sense was secular or outside sacred precincts; it gradually broadened to describe desacralizing or irreverent language or behavior. The semantic shift moved from literally relating to the temple or sacred things to figurative use: language or acts that dishonor, degrade, or misuse what is held sacred or serious by culture. By the 14th–15th centuries, profane was used to denote both disrespect toward holy things and, in some contexts, ordinary secular matters. In modern English, profane is commonly used as an adjective (profane language) and as a verb (to profane a site), though many speakers reserve the noun form for theology or legal discussions. The word retains strong connotations of disrespect or irreverence across dialects, with the intensity of offense often modulated by context and audience.
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Words that rhyme with "Profane"
-ane sounds
-ain sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Profane is pronounced PRO-face with the long O as in 'go' and 'blow,' followed by the 'fein' sound. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈproʊ.feɪn/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: PRO-. Use a clear O vowel in the first syllable and a tense, diphthongal 'eɪ' in the second. Practice by saying 'pro' with a rounded jaw, then slide into 'fain' with the lips close to release + d? Keep the second syllable crisp. Audio references: Cambridge/pronunciation tools can provide native pronunciations to mimic.
Common mistakes include under- or over-pronouncing the second syllable and misplacing the primary stress. People often say PRO-fayn with a reduced second syllable, or they misarticulate the /oʊ/ as an /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ sound, giving a flat or British-short-o effect. Another error is blending /proʊ/ and /feɪn/ too quickly, making it sound like 'profin.' Correction: emphasize the /əʊ/ to /oʊ/ glide in the first syllable and clearly articulate the /feɪn/ with a crisp /f/ and stretched /eɪ/. Record yourself and compare to trusted sources.
In US/UK/AU, the initial vowel in 'pro' retains a clear /oʊ/ sound; rhotics differ subtly: US rhotics tend to have a stronger /r/ influence before vowels in connected speech, while UK/AU are typically non-rhotic in careful speech, meaning the /r/ isn't pronounced unless followed by a vowel. The second syllable /feɪn/ remains a tense diphthong in all accents, but vowel quality on the first vowel can edge toward /oʊ/ (US) versus closer to /əʊ/ (UK/AU). Stress remains on the first syllable in all three.
The challenge lies in the two-syllable rhythm and the diphthong in the second syllable. The /oʊ/ to /ə/ glide in fast speech can blur, and non-native speakers sometimes misplace accent by emphasizing the second syllable or flattening the /eɪ/ into a short /e/. Focus on sustaining the /oʊ/ from the first syllable into the start of the second, then crisply release the /feɪn/. Also, ensure the /f/ is aspirated and not conflated with /v/ in rapid speech.
A distinctive feature is the clear, prolonged /oʊ/ in the first syllable and the crisp, high-front /eɪ/ in the second syllable, creating a strong PRO- and -FEIN rhythm. The combination of the stressed open-mid back vowel /oʊ/ and the tense front diphthong /eɪ/ makes the word sound elevated and precise. Keep the lips rounded on /oʊ/ and stay close on the /eɪ/ to avoid a drawn-out ending. IPA: /ˈproʊ.feɪn/.
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