Phrase guide

prodigal son

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Someone who returns home from travelling or exile or who is welcomed back after disgrace, especially having repented of former extravagant or immoral behavior.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A marine fish, the cobia (Rachycentron canadum).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

With reference to Luke 15:11–32.

Across languages

Translations

32 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: fill pròdig — one who returns
  • Chinese Cantonese: 浪子 — one who returns
  • Chinese Mandarin: 浪子 (làngzǐ) — one who returns
  • Danish: fortabte søn — one who returns
  • Dutch: verloren zoon — one who returns
  • Finnish: tuhlaajapoika — one who returns
  • French: fils prodigue — one who returns
  • Georgian: გზასაცდენილი შვილი (gzasacdenili švili) — one who returns
  • Georgian: გზასაცდენილი ძე (gzasacdenili ʒe) — one who returns
  • Georgian: უძღები ძე (uʒɣebi ʒe) — one who returns
  • Georgian: უძღები შვილი (uʒɣebi švili) — one who returns
  • Georgian: ძე შეცდომილი (ʒe šecdomili) — one who returns
  • German: verlorener Sohn — one who returns
  • German: Zurückkehrer — one who returns
  • German: Heimkehrer — one who returns
  • Greek: άσωτος υιός (ásotos yiós) — one who returns
  • Hungarian: tékozló fiú — one who returns
  • Irish: an mac díobhlásach — one who returns
  • Irish: an millteán mic — one who returns
  • Italian: figliol prodigo — one who returns
  • Italian: figlio prodigo — one who returns
  • Japanese: 放蕩息子 (hōtō musuko) — one who returns
  • Latvian: izšķērdīgais dēls — one who returns
  • Polish: syn marnotrawny — one who returns
  • Portuguese: filho pródigo — one who returns
  • Russian: блу́дный сын (blúdnyj syn) — one who returns
  • Serbo-Croatian: изгубљени син — one who returns
  • Serbo-Croatian: izgubljeni sin — one who returns
  • Spanish: hijo pródigo — one who returns
  • Swedish: förlorad son — one who returns
  • Tagalog: alibughang anak — one who returns
  • Welsh: mab afradlon — one who returns