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Pronunciation of Latin (Italian form)
| a (ah) |
= a as in
father |
| e (eh) |
= e as in
met |
| i (ee) |
= i as in
machine |
| o (oh) |
= o as in
North |
| u (oo) |
= u as in
rule |
| y (ee) |
= i as in
machine |
| ae |
= e as in
met |
| oe |
= e as in
met |
| au |
= ow as in
now |
Every consonant (except h) is sounded.
The consonants b, d, f, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, and x are pronounced approximately as in
English, except as noted below.
| c |
= k before a, o, u, au,
and h (k) |
|
= ch as in
cherry before e, i, ae, and oe (ch) |
| ch |
= ch as in
chorus (k) |
| g |
= g as in
gate before a, o, u, and au (g) |
|
= g as in
gem before e, i, and ae (j) |
| gn |
= ni as in
union (ny) |
| h |
h is silent, except in two words, where
it acts as if it were spelled ch, in nihil
and mihi (= nichil and michi; pronounced neekeel
and meekee). h also forms consonantal clusters with c,
p, and t; but after c
and t, h is silent. |
| j |
= y as in yes
(y) |
| ph |
= ph as in
pheasant (f) |
| r |
r is rolled, as in Italian or Spanish
(r) |
| sc |
= sk before
a, o, or u, and
h (sk) |
|
= sh as in
show before e, i, and ae (sh) |
| th |
= th as in
Thomas (t) |
| ti |
= tsi before a and o;
but not sti, tti, or xti |
| xc |
= ksh before e, i, and
y |
| z |
= ds
|
Examples:
Gloria in excelsis Deo = (glo-ree-ah
een ek-shel-sees deh-oh)
quia fecit mihi magna = (kwee-ah
feh-cheet mee-kee ma-nya)
et ascendit in caelis = (et
ah-shen-deet een cheh-lees)
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