"Amen" pronunciation: "ay-men" v. "ah-men"

[Evenprimes]

Hasn’t anyone seen Lillies of the Field?

 

[pnewton]

Hasn’t anyone seen Lillies of the Field?

 

[onetruechurch]

When I go to Spanish Mass, or when I say my prayers in Spanish (which isn’t too often), I say, “Ah-men.” But when I pray or go to Mass in English, or say it in conversation, I say, “Ay-men.”

Like when I go to Mass and the priest or Eucharistic minister says, “El Cuerpo de Cristo.” I say, “Ah-men.” Which is the Spanish response. If he/she says, “The Body of Christ” I say “Ay-men.”

So really for me it’s about the language I’m speaking at the time.

I think this makes a lot of sense. In California there are many Spanish names for cities, streets, etc but because we are in America we pronounce them with the American vowel pronunciation. Have you been to Sahn Frahnseesko lately?

 

[Pregustator]

This seems to be a matter of “high church” vs. “low church”, if I might be permitted to use those terms in reference to Catholicism.

It seems to me that Roman Catholics in the United States who are more traditionally-minded prefer the “ah” as opposed to the “ay”, whereas those less inclined toward solemnity seem to lean toward “ay” over “ah” (and I think that in most cases wherein that is true, it isn’t a conscious decision as much as contemporary habit).

I, personally, prefer “ah” to “ay”, but I do find myself in the minority. Most contemporary Catholics seem to go with “ay”, completely drowning out my “ah” when I respond at Mass.

 

[Domnall]

Just a bit of an interesting note.

The Jews have a different way of saying amen. They pronnounce it “oh main”(like the state ) That’s another acceptable variant considering it comes from the Hebrew.

I found this out while acting when my high school did “Diary of Anne Frank.” Very interesting!

 

[crystal_waters]

It’s just a matter of language. Americans tend to say Ayemen rather than the original Armen of the English Language. The UK and Australia still use Armen today!

im from the uk and i say ay men

 

[ConstantineTG]

Its “ah-men”

It came from the Aramaic “ah-min”

 

[jmcrae]

Its “ah-men”

It came from the Aramaic “ah-min”

It does, indeed. I am still surprised at the number of people who say “ah-men” - around here, I am the only white person who has ever used that pronunciation - most people either say “aw-men” or “ay-men.” Really, I have only heard Muslims and some Jews use “ah-men”.

 

[crystal_waters]

It does, indeed. I am still surprised at the number of people who say “ah-men” - around here, I am the only white person who has ever used that pronunciation - most people either say “aw-men” or “ay-men.” Really, I have only heard Muslims and some Jews use “ah-men”./QUOTE

i didnt know jews and muslims end their prayers with that

 

[jmcrae]

jmcrae;7527353:

It does, indeed. I am still surprised at the number of people who say “ah-men” - around here, I am the only white person who has ever used that pronunciation - most people either say “aw-men” or “ay-men.” Really, I have only heard Muslims and some Jews use “ah-men”.

I think they (the Jews) invented it, didn’t they?

 

[neusys]

i was taught, by nuns and priests, when attending the mass in Latin, it’s ah-men. anything else, is English – ay-men!

 

[Petaro]

We just say “Ahhhhyhamen! Amen! Amen!” to very loud music whilst jiggling around like drunk chooks. I am led to believe that any more linguistic analysis is left to orthoepy specialists and is seen as geographical in nature and is often dependent on travel availability and trade routes within once closed demographics. It has worried me for years until I found our new , big, church of the post amplified and found peace in pure emotion and tithing,