Ecclesiastical Latin Pronunciation

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Vowels

  Vowels are constant in pronunciation; they are always pronounced as below, without exception!

A ah as in father example: Amen
E eh as in bet example: ventris
I ee as in machine example: sicut
O oh as in order
[or as in flow without the final "w" sound]
example: non
U oo as in tulip example: tua
Y ee pronounced exactly like Latin I sound example: hymnus
Æ eh pronounced exactly like Latin E sound example: æterna
Œ eh pronounced exactly like Latin E sound example: cœli

AI
AU
EI
EU

ah-ee
ah-oo
eh-ee
eh-oo
pronounce both vowels, elongating the first examples:
   ait
   laudamus
   Dei
   meus

UA
UE
UI
UO

oo-ah
oo-eh
oo-ee
oo-oh
after Q, pronounce QU like KW, then pronounce the 2nd vowel examples:
   qua
   quem
   quid
   quoniam
AA
EE
II
OO
UU
ah-ah
eh-eh
ee-ee
oh-oh
oo-oo
Doubled vowels are each pronounced. example: Filii
[All three Is are pronounced.]

Consonants

B b as in bat example: bonæ
C k as in cut before consonants; before A, O, U; or at the end of a word examples:
   sacris
   cantate
   con
   sicut
   huic
  ch as in child before E, I, Y, Æ, Œ examples:
   parce
   dulcis
   cymbalum
   cælestis
   cœli
CC tch as in catch before E, I, Y, Æ, Œ examples:
   ecce
   accipite
  k as in cut before A, O, U example:
   peccata
CH k as in cut example:   Christus
D d as in down example: dona
F f as in feet example: filio
G g as in gold before consonants (except N) or before A, O, U examples:
   gratias
   gaude
   virgo
   singulis
  j as in gem before E, I, Y, Æ, Œ examples:
   genuit
   fregit
GN ny as in canyon examples:
   magnam
   agnus
H k as in key in mihi
   and nihil;
otherwise   SILENT!
J y as in yet examples:
   ejus
   Jesu

[now often written as I]
K k as in key example:   kalendæ
L l as in light example: liber
M m as in moon example: meum
N n as in nice example: donec
P p as in pan example: Petrus
PH f as in phone example:   propheta
Q k as in key
[always followed by UA, UE, UI, or UA]
examples:
   quando
   atque
   quid
   quoque
R rolled slightly as d in teddy;
never as American R
examples:
   regina
   terra
S s as in sing;
never Z as in rise
examples:
   semper
   miserere
SC sk as in scale before A, O, U examples:
   requiescat
   cognosco
   obscura
  sh as in shine before E, I, Y, Æ, Œ examples:
   descendit
   suscitans
SCH sk as in school examples:
   schola
   paschali
T t as in time before all letters except i + vowel; and at ends of words examples:
   sanctum
   timeas
   erat
TH t as in thyme example:   catholicam
TI tsee as in tse-tse fly before a vowel and preceded by any letter except S, T, X examples:
   gratia
   sitio
  tee as in tea before a vowel and after S, T, X example:
   modestia
V v as in vine example: virgine
X gs as in exam after E, at the beginning of a word, followed by a vowel example: exaudi
  ks as in tax followed by a consonant or at the end of a word examples:
   excelsis
   lux
Z dz as in seeds example:
  Lazarus

See CNP Latin Index