Have you ever wondered how to pronounce those little Latin quotes? Whether you are a student or a botanist, knowing how to pronounce Latin can be quite helpful. Once you have mastered the basic sounds, you will be able to speak Latin like a student of ancient letters.
Steps
Step 1. Know that Latin does not have the letters J or W
In names like Julius, the J is pronounced like the consonant Y: "Yulius". It can also be mistaken for the letter I, so Julius becomes Iulius.
Step 2. Most consonants are pronounced as in Italian with some exceptions:
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The C is "hard" like a K, dog, scab, wedge.
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The I before a vowel is a consonant, pronounced like a Y, yogurt.
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The B before the T or S is a P, bread, place.
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The R is vibrant, as in Spanish, RRRamo.
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The V is pronounced like the Italian W, water, wafer.
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The S is never Z, it is always S, wise, sound, tin.
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The G is "tough" like cat, war, grill.
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Step 3. The combined consonants derive from the ancient Greek influence:
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CH from the Greek who takes the sound of the hard C and never the sweet C as in cherry.
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PH from the Greek phi is "hard" like the P of bread. It is never read as an F.
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TH from the Greek theta is "hard" and is pronounced as a T, tank, it never takes the sound of the English "th".
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Step 4. Double consonants, such as double R or double T, should always be pronounced as two separate letters
Step 5. The vowels are pronounced like this:
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A, to love
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And, read
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I, limbo
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Or, note
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U, fulcrum
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Step 6. Know that some Latin names are long, and are represented with a macron, which is an elongation mark above the vowel:
- Ā, salt
- Ē, dinner
- Ī, mine
- Ō, goose
- Ū, hole
Step 7. Learn the diphthongs
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The diphthong AE is pronounced AI.
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The diphthong AU is pronounced as in vogue.
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The diphthong EI is pronounced as in mine.
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Step 8. Remember this rule:
all vowels are pronounced unless there is a diphthong.
Advice
- Have fun with this language; she's gorgeous.
- Some people have different ideas about how Latin should be pronounced. These differences go back to different periods on which they are based to determine the pronunciation of Latin and to the sources that provide different rules. The pronunciation, lexicon, and grammar of Latin changed a lot over the time it was a living language (from around 900 BC to AD 1600), and there were many regional variations. The rules defined above are the "classical" pronunciation, which probably corresponds to the Latin spoken before the third century. In a non-religious setting, this is the pronunciation of Latin that is usually taught.
- Make sure you pronounce the T's perfectly to get a more eloquent sound.
- Remember: Latin was the language of the Romans. Try not to make it look robotic.
- Repeat the words many times until the pronunciation becomes fluid.
