A-men or ah-men

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I might be all wrong here but I thought once I heard that the proper pronunciation of amen during the mass is the long a sound “A”-men. Is that correct or does it not matter? Then I noticed when the amen is ever sung it is sung with the short a sound “ahh”-men?

Probably a small matter but just curious if the church has any guideline on this matter? 🙂
 
k5thbeatle said:
I might be all wrong here but I thought once I heard that the proper pronunciation of amen during the mass is the long a sound “A”-men. Is that correct or does it not matter? Then I noticed when the amen is ever sung it is sung with the short a sound “ahh”-men?

Probably a small matter but just curious if the church has any guideline on this matter? 🙂
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The more formal is the “ahh-men”

I believe the actual closer Hebrew pronounciaiton is “ahh -mein”

so “ahh-men” is actually closer to the original Hebrew “ahh-mein”

the long sounding “a-men” is the more casual
 
Its “uh-men” and not “ey-men”. I’ve been to several Liturgies in different languages and none every pronounces the “A” as “ey”. Latin says “uh-men”, so does Filipino. Ukrainian, Slavonic and Aramaic says “uh-min”. Its pretty telling if only English pronounces the “A” as “ey”.
 
k5thbeatle said:
So there is no one way to pronounce this during mass?
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In my experience, when sung, it’s always “ahhhhhhhh-men.” But often it’s “ay-men” when spoken, as with after the Nicene Creed.

Not that this is right, it’s just the custom I’ve observed.
 
:confused: Huh???

Sorry, my error, maybe I should clarify, I am referring to masses in the United States in English.
 
I know we say ahhmen in church liturgy,however I was raised saying a-men. Still do in private prayer etc…
 
I always say Ah-men. I think it’s because I sing it that way so much. Also, I think ay-men sounds kind country. (No offense to my rural brothers and sisters in Christ.)
 
i have wondered about this myself,now i am more confused than before.:confused:
 
makes me wonder too- oh well - whatever - I say eh-men because everyone else says awmen. sometimes I pray and I just say So be it. your will be done. so does it matter? As long as I don’t cuss or something crazy and my hearts kinda sort of in the right place it should be ok right?:o
 
While many people say Ay-men, it is incorrect to sing it as such. It is always sung Ah-men. The only exception is the “Lilies of the Field” Amen, which should never be sung in a Catholic church. Likewise, in Catholic use it is always ho-SAH-na, not ho-SAA-na.
 
Marie5890 said:
The more formal is the “ahh-men”

I believe the actual closer Hebrew pronounciaiton is “ahh -mein”

so “ahh-men” is actually closer to the original Hebrew “ahh-mein”

the long sounding “a-men” is the more casual
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Would the ‘mein’ rhyme with ‘thine’?

We say ‘ah’ in ‘allelulia’. I say ‘ah’.
 
Cavaille-Coll said:
While many people say Ay-men, it is never correct to sing it as such. It is always sung Ah-men. The only exception is the “Lilies of the Field” Amen, which should never be sung in a Catholic church.
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Source please. :cool:
 
Hey - what’s wrong with Lilies’ “Amen”? Better than Marty Haugen.
 
the ahh-men is Latin, and the ay-men is English.

Similarly Aleluia is Latin and Hallelujah is English.

In aramaic, it’s Ah-meen
 
Amen is not an English word. It is Hebrew. It is pronounced ah-men. Just like when we sing it. Or ah-lleluia. Not hal-ley-luia.
 
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