Pronunciation Guide

Question 1

What are the letters of the Latin Alphabet?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

What is a macron?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

A

Answer 3

_a_ha!

Note the subtle difference in the sound of the two vowels in this word (they may be too similar to tell apart).

Question 4

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

Ā

Answer 4

ah_a_!

Note the subtle difference in the sound of the two vowels in this word (they may be too similar to tell apart).

Question 5

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

B

Answer 5

_b_at

Question 6

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

C

Answer 6

_c_at

In Latin, C is never pronounced like S.

Question 7

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

D

Answer 7

_d_og

Question 8

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

E

Answer 8

b_e_t

Question 9

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

Ē

Answer 9

b_ai_t

Question 10

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

F

Answer 10

_f_og

Question 11

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

G

Answer 11

_g_olf

Note: In Latin, G is never pronounced like at the end of, e.g. gouge.

Question 12

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

H

Answer 12

_h_eat

Question 13

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

I

(vowel)

Answer 13

w_i_t

Question 14

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

Ī

Answer 14

wh_ea_t

Question 15

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

I

(consonant)

Answer 15

_Y_ellow

e.g. _i_us, _i_uris

Note that sometimes, this letter may be written as a J.

Question 16

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

K

Answer 16

_C_amp

Question 17

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

L

Answer 17

_l_osing

Question 18

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

M

Answer 18

_m_ake

Question 19

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

N

Answer 19

_n_ow

Question 20

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

O

Answer 20

_o_dd

Question 21

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

Ō

Answer 21

_o_de

Question 22

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

P

Answer 22

_p_lant

Question 23

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

Qu

Answer 23

_qu_ick

Note: QU is pronounced in Latin just like it is in English, but not like it is pronounced in French.

Question 24

What does this letter sound like in Latin?

R

Answer 24

po_r_t

Note: In Latin, R is sometimes given a slight roll.

Question 25

# What does this letter sound like in Latin? S

Answer 25

_s_tamp ## Footnote Note: In Latin, S is **never** pronounced like Z (e.g. his).

Question 26

# What does this letter sound like in Latin? T

Answer 26

_t_rot

Question 27

# What does this letter sound like in Latin? U

Answer 27

l_oo_k ## Footnote Note that sometimes, this letter may be written as a **V**.

Question 28

# What does this letter sound like in Latin? Ū

Answer 28

L_u_ke

Question 29

# What does this letter sound like in Latin? V

Answer 29

_w_ater ## Footnote Note: In Latin, V is **never** pronounced like in English (e.g. vase).

Question 30

# What does this letter sound like in Latin? X

Answer 30

re_x_, sti_cks_, fi_gs_ ## Footnote 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.

Question 31

# What does this diphthong sound like in Latin? ae

Answer 31

_eye_

Question 32

# What does this diphthong sound like in Latin? au

Answer 32

h_ow_

Question 33

# What does this diphthong sound like in Latin? ei

Answer 33

_ei_ght

Question 34

# What does this diphthong sound like in Latin? eu

Answer 34

_Eu_rope

Question 35

# What does this diphthong sound like in Latin? oe

Answer 35

f_oi_l

Question 36

# What does this diphthong sound like in Latin? ui

Answer 36

g_ooey_ ## Footnote This diphthong only exists in five words: *huius*, *cuius*, *huic*, *cui*, *hui*. Otherwise, the two vowels are **pronounced separately**.

Question 37

# Where is the stress in this word: sum

Answer 37

sum ## Footnote 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.

Question 38

# Where is the stress in this word? laudat

Answer 38

**'lau**.dat ## Footnote Because *laudat* has two syllables, the stress is always on the *penult* (the *penultimate*, or "almost-last" syllable).

Question 39

# Where is the stress in this word: parāmus

Answer 39

pa.**'rā**.mus ## Footnote Because the *penult* has a macron, it automatically gets the stress.

Question 40

# Where is the stress in this word: cassiopeia

Answer 40

cas.si.o.**'pei**.a ## Footnote Because the *penult* has a diphthong (ei), it is stressed.

Question 41

# Where is the stress in this word: insula

Answer 41

**'in**.su.la ## Footnote Because *insula* has three syllables, and the *penult* has no macron or diphthong, the stress is on the *antepenult* (the "before-almost-last" syllable).

Question 42

# Where is the stress in this word: agricola

Answer 42

a.**'gri**.co.la ## Footnote 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*.