Pronunciation of "Amen" during Liturgy of the Hours

[Filii_Dei]

I think it’s like potato or po-tah-to, and really doesn’t make much difference as long as you respond “Amen” as a declaration of affirmation to the revealed truths of God.

Saying po-tah-to doesn’t make much difference? Interesting!

 

[Pat_the_elder]

Like another poster I learned somewhere that Ay-men was the English pronunciation and Ah-men Latin. I remember when i was younger getting my underwear in a fancle over this and wondering which version to use. I use Ahmen but wouln’t even think about it if someone else used Aymen.
"You say Tomayto and I say tomato - let’s call the whole thing off!"lol

 

[Morwenna]

“Distatsteful”…“street talk”…“evangelical”…“aping”…“post-VII”…

Wow. Just…wow.

My sentiments exactly, John. :sad_yes:

 

[Hacksaw_Jim]

Of course, it does remind me of the movie “The Lilies of the Field.”

Too funny! I was totally thinking about Sidney Poitier and the nuns singing as I was reading this thread. Had an “AHA” moment when I saw your post.
And by the way, I have a recorded version of some nuns saying the rosary which I sometimes pray along with. They say “Amen” both ways, simultaneously at the ends of prayers and it makes me nuts to hear them “out of sync”! (not sure why) Ay-men or Ahh-men, one or the other please, but not both at the same time, Sisters!
Peace and good to all of you…

 

[BobDanners]

Maybe it’s my Lutheran upbringing, but I always say “ah-men”.

“aye-men” is just doesn’t sound right to me.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Maybe it’s my Lutheran upbringing, but I always say “ah-men”.

“aye-men” is just doesn’t sound right to me.

It has gotten to the point that whatever the majority says in any given context is the way to go, unless you simply wish to stand out. Unlike morals, there ain’t no right and wrong in language, only what is more and less used. As far as I’m concerned, if it communicates effectively, it’s good English, I mean, American. You might want to take into account the effect that your choice of language has on your audience. But with amen, I doubt it much matters. You may be considered a bit out of step, but never whack, IMHO.

 

[Phemie]

I live in Labrador. My mother tongue is French so it’s ah-men to me. I hear both from the people around me. It’s certainly not a southern thing. Too many people watched “Lilies of the Field”. Hands up those of you whose parish once used that “Amen” during Mass.

 

[SMHW]

I live in Labrador. My mother tongue is French so it’s ah-men to me. I hear both from the people around me. It’s certainly not a southern thing. Too many people watched “Lilies of the Field”. Hands up those of you whose parish once used that “Amen” during Mass.

I used to hear the Lilies of the Field Amen back in the 1960s and 1970s. (However I’ve never actually seen Lilies of the Field.)

My Catholic mother taught me to say Ay-men when praying. I presume that was due to my Irish ancestry. Of course back then it was “Holy Ghost” rather than “Holy Spirit”. But that, like “Alleluia versus Halleluiah”, is another thread…