Prophecy or Prophesy?

What Is the Difference between "Prophecy" and "Prophesy"?

"Prophecy" and "prophesy" are easy to confuse.

• "Prophecy" is knowledge of the future (from a divine source).
• It was an accurate prophecy.
("Prophecy" is a noun.)
• "Prophesy" means to predict the future (with divine inspiration).
• He will prophesy the future of mankind.
("Prophesy" is a verb.)

Click to hear how "prophecy" and "prophesy" are pronounced:

Prophecy

"Prophecy" is a noun. (The last syllable of prophecy is pronounced "sea.") A prophecy is "knowledge of the future," usually said to have come from a divine source.

Example sentences with "prophecy":

• The prophet has revealed his latest prophecy in which three cities are razed to the ground.
• On the second day of the course, we will study the prophecies of Nostradamus.
("Prophecies" is the plural of "prophecy.")

Prophesy

"Prophesy" is a verb. (The last syllable of prophesy is pronounced "sigh.") "To prophesy" means "to predict the future" - usually with divine inspiration.

Person	Personal Pronoun	Conjugation of "To Prophesy"
First Person Singular	I	prophesy
Second Person Singular	you	prophesy
Third Person Singular	he/she/it	prophesies
First Person Plural	we	prophesy
Second Person Plural	you	prophesy
Third Person Plural	they	prophesy

The past tense and the past participle are "prophesied."

Example sentences with "prophesy":

• He prophesies a great war between East and West.
• He prophesied that a flood would cover the Earth.
(This is an example of "to prophesy" in the past tense.)

Beware

There is no such word as "prophesize" (or "prophesise" ).

• He will prophesize the future of mankind.
(This should be "prophesy.")
• He often prophesizes for money.
(This should be "prophesies.")

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