Pronunciation Guide Flashcards
Use this deck to learn the basic rules of Latin pronunciation.
What are the letters of the Latin Alphabet?
A B C D E F
G H I K L M
N O P Q R
S T U V X
Note: Some sources will use J for the consonant form of I. Others (including historical sources) will use V instead of U.
What is a macron?
A macron is a horizontal bar accent above some vowels in Latin.
Macrons help with pronouncing and differentiating certain words. Normally, a vowel with a macron is longer than one without. Macrons also sometimes affect word stress.
Latin vowels with macrons: ā, ē, ī, ō, ū
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
A
_a_ha!
Note the subtle difference in the sound of the two vowels in this word (they may be too similar to tell apart).
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
Ā
ah_a_!
Note the subtle difference in the sound of the two vowels in this word (they may be too similar to tell apart).
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
B
_b_at
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
C
_c_at
In Latin, C is never pronounced like S.
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
D
_d_og
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
E
b_e_t
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
Ē
b_ai_t
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
F
_f_og
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
G
_g_olf
Note: In Latin, G is never pronounced like at the end of, e.g. gouge.
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
H
_h_eat
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
I
(vowel)
w_i_t
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
Ī
wh_ea_t
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
I
(consonant)
_Y_ellow
e.g. _i_us, _i_uris
Note that sometimes, this letter may be written as a J.
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
K
_C_amp
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
L
_l_osing
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
M
_m_ake
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
N
_n_ow
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
O
_o_dd
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
Ō
_o_de
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
P
_p_lant
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
Qu
_qu_ick
Note: QU is pronounced in Latin just like it is in English, but not like it is pronounced in French.
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
R
po_r_t
Note: In Latin, R is sometimes given a slight roll.
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
S
_s_tamp
Note: In Latin, S is never pronounced like Z (e.g. his).
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
T
_t_rot
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
U
l_oo_k
Note that sometimes, this letter may be written as a V.
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
Ū
L_u_ke
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
V
_w_ater
Note: In Latin, V is never pronounced like in English (e.g. vase).
What does this letter sound like in Latin?
X
re_x_, sti_cks_, fi_gs_
Note: In Latin, X is the combination of a K (or G) with an S. It is never pronounced like a Z like “xylophone,” and it is never pronounced gutterally like in German.
What does this diphthong sound like in Latin?
ae
eye
What does this diphthong sound like in Latin?
au
h_ow_
What does this diphthong sound like in Latin?
ei
_ei_ght
What does this diphthong sound like in Latin?
eu
_Eu_rope
What does this diphthong sound like in Latin?
oe
f_oi_l
What does this diphthong sound like in Latin?
ui
g_ooey_
This diphthong only exists in five words: huius, cuius, huic, cui, hui.
Otherwise, the two vowels are pronounced separately.
Where is the stress in this word:
sum
sum
Because sum has only one syllable, that syllable must be the last one in the word (the ultima). The ultima is never stressed in Latin.
Where is the stress in this word?
laudat
‘lau.dat
Because laudat has two syllables, the stress is always on the penult (the penultimate, or “almost-last” syllable).
Where is the stress in this word:
parāmus
pa.‘rā.mus
Because the penult has a macron, it automatically gets the stress.
Where is the stress in this word:
cassiopeia
cas.si.o.‘pei.a
Because the penult has a diphthong (ei), it is stressed.
Where is the stress in this word:
insula
‘in.su.la
Because insula has three syllables, and the penult has no macron or diphthong, the stress is on the antepenult (the “before-almost-last” syllable).
Where is the stress in this word:
agricola
a.‘gri.co.la
Because the penult has no macron or diphthong, the stress is on the antepenult (the “before-almost-last” syllable). The stress cannot be on any syllables other than the penult or antepenult.
