A Guide to Latin Pronunciation

Vowels

Speech Element Pronunciation Examples
a as in calm ad, mater
e as a in fate me, video
i as in machine qui, ire
o as in or porta, omnis
u as in tutor cum, summus

Diphthongs

Speech Element Pronunciation Examples
ae as a in fate prae, illae
oe as a in fate coelum, coepi
au as ou in out aut, laudo

Consonants

Speech Element Pronunciation Examples
c (before e or i) as ch in church certus, cibus
ch as in ache Christus
g (before e or i) as in gentle gens, agit
g (before other letters) as in go gratis, gloria
gn ny as in canyon agnus, ignis
j (or consonant i) as y in yes Jesus, Justus
s as s in sing
(never as in raise)
miser, fides
sc (before a, o, u or a consonant) as sc in scope scutum, Pascha
sc (before e and i) as sh in shall ascéndere, scio
th as t in ten Thomas
ti
(when followed by a vowel and proceeded by any letter except s, t, or x)
as patsy bratia, totius
x (in words beginning ex followed by a vowel, h, or s) as gs exaud�r
x (in all other cases) as ks pax, exusáre


[Prayers of the Rosary in Latin]

www.olrl.org/pray/

Home