Learning Latin prayers ... need help with pronunciation

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antonius:
I was taught the same, that in Latin there is no distinction between “u” and “v.” The word “crucifixus,” for example, was really spelled “crvcifixvs.” And when v was used as a consonant, it was always pronounced as the English “w.”

I’m sure it is true. But I’ve always found it a little funny to think of a Roman soldier returning from the brutal battlefields of war, bursting through the door of his home and announcing triumphantly to his wife, “Vivi!” (I have lived!)

But what she hears him say is “wee-wee.”
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At some point though, before Lain became Italian, there became a distinction between “u” and “v”. It would seem that it is from this point that we have the Latin that is the language of the Church, the Latin that isn’t “dead”.
 
m134e5 said:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=101823

I posted a Latin pronunciation guide on this thread a few days ago for someone asking how to say the Our Father in Latin.

BryPGuy89, your pronunciation is in the German style. It is used in German speaking countries- and by people who learned from them, but The italian way is more commonly used in the U.S.

e is always eh (depending on your preference), or a long a sound (NOT a + y, as is so often done). In the German pronunciation, it is often ee.
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ay and eh sound identical to me so I use either. If that is just me then oh well, but I can’t differenciate the sounds.
 
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dulcissima:
At some point though, before Lain became Italian, there became a distinction between “u” and “v”. It would seem that it is from this point that we have the Latin that is the language of the Church, the Latin that isn’t “dead”.
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Yes, I learned what is the dead Latin, vulgar, so I openly admitted my pronounciations would differ maybe from that of someone familiar with that of the Church.
 
Hi Folks,

Here’s a few more words I could use pronunciation help with.

cuius - COO-ee-oos?
suam - SUE-ahm?
haec - AKE or AH-ake?

As always, I appreciate your help!

God Bless,
Gary
 
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gez722:
Hi Folks,

Here’s a few more words I could use pronunciation help with.

cuius - COO-ee-oos?
suam - SUE-ahm?
haec - AKE or AH-ake?

As always, I appreciate your help!

God Bless,
Gary
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cuius = COO-yoos. The ‘i’ is a consanant in this case. You’ll sometimes see it written as cujus. Same with huius and eius.

suam = SUE-ahm

haec = Hay-ek would be the best approximation, I think. The ‘e’ is short, not long. You may hear it pronounced “Hake” on occasion.
 
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Benedictus:
cuius = COO-yoos. The ‘i’ is a consanant in this case. You’ll sometimes see it written as cujus. Same with huius and eius.

suam = SUE-ahm

haec = Hay-ek would be the best approximation, I think. The ‘e’ is short, not long. You may hear it pronounced “Hake” on occasion.
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Thanks!!!
 
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antonius:
I was taught the same, that in Latin there is no distinction between “u” and “v.” The word “crucifixus,” for example, was really spelled “crvcifixvs.” And when v was used as a consonant, it was always pronounced as the English “w.”
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No, as consonant, the V is pronounced as a V. It was a mere graphical confusion, not phonetical. As in IESV (Jesus) and in VACVVS (vacuum). It’s easy to tell when it’s a consonant or a vowel when considering the syllables, typically starting with a consonant followed by a vowel.

WRT to C and G, it’s only guttural with A, O and U, and palatal with E and I. That’s a common trait in all the Romance languages and believed to come from Latin.

:blessyou:
 
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Benedictus:
haec = Hay-ek would be the best approximation, I think. The ‘e’ is short, not long. You may hear it pronounced “Hake” on occasion.
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The H is mute in Latin.

In this case, “EH-k”.

:blessyou:
 
check out closedcafeteria.blogspot.com

The writer has a podcast and several audio files about how to pronounce latin prayers with English and Latin texts to follow along. He also pronounces them slowly and clearly enough to follow along.

I love Ave Maris Stella!!!
 
I just wanted to say thanks for this post. I also want to learn Latin pronounciation. I have a lot of guesses, too, and on those rare occasions when I hear it spoken, I listen hard while following along.

I speak Spanish so the structure makes sense to me and maybe some of it is easier, and I’ve found I understand a certain amount of Italian. But I could use a Latin course!

This thread really helps.

God bless!
 
Go with modern Italian pronunciation. Get prayerbooks with the syllable length marks over the top of the words. After a while, it becomes second nature. 👍

Latin course books at textkit.com for free.
 
I’m currently learning the St. Michael prayer in Latin, but I’m having trouble pronouncing “Michael Archangele” (shows you how far I’ve gotten :o ). Here’s my best guess:

MEE-kye-ale ark-AHN-jay-lee

Am I close?

God Bless,
Gary
 
gez722 said:
I’m currently learning the St. Michael prayer in Latin, but I’m having trouble pronouncing “Michael Archangele” (shows you how far I’ve gotten :o ). Here’s my best guess:

MEE-kye-ale ark-AHN-jay-lee

Am I close?

God Bless,
Gary
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Well, here is my best guess:

MEE-kale Ark-AHN-jeh-lay

This is based on the diphthong “ae” being pronounced like “ay”
and the “e” in angelus being a short vowel.
 
Dulcissima,

Thanks so much… I always forget about the diphthongs!!!

God Bless,
Gary
 
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