Church Pronunciation
The Latin of the Mass and of church music, read the way Italian is read.
How It Works
| Letters | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| c before e, i, ae, oe | ch | Cicero = CHEE-cheh-ro |
| g before e, i, ae, oe | j | gens = JENS |
| c, g before a, o, u | k, hard g | cantate = kahn-TAH-teh |
| v | v | vobis = VO-bees |
| ae, oe | eh | saecula = SEH-koo-lah |
| ti before a vowel | tsee, but tee after s, t, x | gratia = GRAHT-see-ah, hostia = OS-tee-ah |
| gn | ny | agnus = AHN-yoos |
| sc before e, i | sh | ascendit = ah-SHEN-deet |
| ch | k | Christus = KREE-stoos |
| h | silent, except in mihi and nihil, which take a k sound | homo = O-mo, mihi = MEE-kee |
Examples (5)
- Pax vobiscum.
Peace be with you.
Pax is PAHKS. In vobiscum the sc comes before u, so it stays k: vo-BEES-koom.
- Cicero in foro est.
Cicero is in the forum.
The c before e and i sounds like ch: CHEE-cheh-ro.
- Agnus Dei.
Lamb of God.
The gn sounds like ny: AHN-yoos DEH-ee.
- Gratia plena.
Full of grace.
The ti sounds like tsee: GRAHT-see-ah PLEH-nah.
- Christus regnat.
Christ reigns.
The ch sounds like k and the gn like ny: KREE-stoos REN-yaht.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The Church sounds belong to the same spelling, so the spelling rules come first.
Related Patterns
- Classical Pronunciation
The same letters in classical Latin.
Foundations - Soft and Hard C and G
The soft c and g compared side by side.
Level 1 - ti, gn, sc and h: Classical and ChurchTi, Gn, Sc and H Compared
The other letter groups that change in Church Latin.
Level 1 - Two Vowels, One Sound: ae, oe, auTwo Vowels, One Sound
The two-vowel sounds side by side.
Level 1 - Two Voices, One Written Language
How the two journeys fit together.
Foundations
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- Agnus DeiLamb of GodLevel 1
- Ave MariaHail MaryLevel 1
- Confiteor / mea culpaI Confess: ConfiteorLevel 1
- Domine, non sum dignusLord, I Am Not WorthyLevel 1
- Dominus vobiscumThe Lord Be with YouLevel 1
- Dona nobis pacemGrant Us PeaceLevel 1
- Gloria PatriGlory BeLevel 1
- Gloria in excelsis DeoGlory to God in the HighestLevel 1
And 12 more in the full list.
Practice Church Pronunciation in Bubblegum
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