Pronounciation of Church Latin
Vowels
and Diphthongs
Each vowel has one sound; a mixture or sequence of sounds would be fatal
to good Latin pronunciation; this is far more important than their exact
length.
It is of course difficult to find in English the exact equivalent of
the Latin vowels. The examples given here will serve as an indication;
the real values can best be learned by ear.
A is pronounced as in the word Father; never
as in the word can. We must be careful to get this open, warm
sound, especially when A is followed by M or N as
in Sanctus, Nam, etc.
E is pronounced as in Red, men, met; never
with the suspicion of a second sound as in ray.
I is pronounced as ee in Feet; never
as i in milk or tin.
O is pronounced as in For; never as in go.
U is pronounced as oo in Moon; never
as u in custom.
Y is treated as the Latin I.
The pronunciation given for I, O, U, gives the approximate
"quality" of the sounds, which may be long or short. Care
must be taken to bring out the accent of the word.
mártyr = márteer
As a general rule when two vowels come together each keeps its own sound
and constitutes a separate syllable.
diéi = di-é-i fílii = fí-li-i eórum
= e-órum
This applies to OU and AI
prout = pro-oot
coutúntur = co-oo-toón-toor
áit = áh-eet
But notice that AE and OE are pronounced
as one sound, like E above.
caelum
In AU, EU, and AY,
the two vowels form one syllable, but both vowels must be distinctly
heard. The principle emphasis and interest belongs to the first which
must be sounded purely. If on such a syllable several notes are sung,
the vocalization is entirely on the first vowel, the second being heard
only on the last note at the moment of passing to the following syllable.
Examples: Lauda, Euge
EI is similarly treated only when it occurs in the
interjection Hei. Otherwise
Mei = Me-i, etc.
U preceded by Q or NG and followed
by another vowel as in words like qui and sanguis,
keeps its normal sound and is uttered as one syllable with the vowel
which follows: qui, quae, quod, quam,
sanguis. But notice that cui forms two syllables,
and is pronounced as koo-ee. In certain hymns, due to the metre,
this word must be treated as one syllable (Cf. Major Bethlem cui
contigit. Lauds for the Epiphany).
Consonants
The consonants must be articulated with a certain crispness; otherwise
the reading becomes unintelligible, weak and nerveless.
C coming before e, ae, oe, i, y is pronounced
like ch in church.
caelum = che-loom
Cecília = che-chée-lee-a
CC before the same vowels is pronounced t-ch.
ecce = et-che
síccitas = seét-chee-tas
SC before the same vowels is pronounced like sh
in shed.
Descéndit = de-shén-deet
Except for these cases C is always pronounced like
the English K.
cáritas = káh-ree-tas
CH is always like K (even before E or I).
Cham = Kam
máchina = má-kee-na
G before e, ae, oe, i, y, is soft as in generous.
mági, génitor, Regína
Otherwise G is hard as in Government.
Gubernátor, Vigor, Ego
GN has the softened sound given to these letters in
French and Italian.
agneau, Signor, Monsignor
The nearest English equivalent would be N followed by y.
Agneau = Ah-nyoh
Regnum = Reh-nyoom
Magníficat = Mah-nyeé-fee-caht
H is pronounced K in the two words nihil (nee-keel)
and mihi (mee-kee) and their compounds. In ancient books these
words are often written nichil and michi. In all other cases H
is mute.
J often written as I, is treated as
Y, forming one sound with the following vowel.
jam = yam alleluia = allelóoya major = ma-yor
R when with another consonant, care must be taken not
to omit this sound. It must be slightly rolled on the tongue e.g. Carnis.
Care must be taken not to modify the quality of the vowel in the syllable
preceding the R:
Kyrie: Do not say Kear-ee-e but Kée-ree-e.
Sápere: Do not say Sah-per-e but Sáh-pe-re.
Dilígere: Do not say Dee-lee-ger-e but Dee-lée-ge-re.
S is hard as in the English word sea but is slightly
softened when coming between two vowels.
misericórdia
TS standing before a vowel and following any letter
(except S, X, T) is pronounced tsee.
Patiéntia = pa-t-see-én-t-see-a
Grátia = Grá-t-see-a
Constitútio = Con-stee-tú-t-see-o
Laetítia = Lae-tée-t-see-a
Otherwise the T is like the English T.
TH is always simply T.
Thómas, Cathólicam
X is pronounced ks, slightly softened when
coming between two vowels.
exércitus
XC before e, ae, oe, i, y = KSH.
Excélsis = ek-shél-sees
Before other vowels XC has the ordinary hard sound
of the letters composing it.
excussórum = eks-coos-só-room
Y in Latin is reckoned among the vowels and is sounded
like I.
Z is pronounced dz.
zizánia
All
the rest of the consonants B, D, F, K, L, M, N, P, Q, V
are pronounced as in English.
Double Consonants must be clearly sounded.
Bello = bel-lo, not the English bellow
Abbas, Joánnem, Innocens, piíssime, terra
In the pronunciation and singing of a word the "Golden Rule"
must always be kept:
"Never take a breath just before a fresh syllable of a
word."