Two Vowels, One Sound: ae, oe, au

Two Vowels, One Sound

Level 1

A diphthong is one sound made from two vowels.

How It Works

LettersClassicalChurchExample
aeeyeehcaelum = KYE-loom / CHEH-loom
oeoyehpoena = POY-na / PEH-nah
auowowaurum = OW-room in both

Many plural endings contain ae, such as puellae (girls). It sounds like pu-EL-lye in classical Latin and pu-EL-leh in Church Latin.

The same spelling appears in names such as Caesar, Aeneas and Paulus. Aeneas is eye-NAY-ahs in classical Latin and eh-NEH-ahs in Church Latin. English keeps the ae in words like aesthetic, but English readers say it with a plain e sound, much like Church Latin.

Examples (5)

  1. Caelum magnum est.

    The sky is big.

    Classical: KYE-loom. Church: CHEH-loom.

  2. Poena magna est.

    The penalty is great.

    Classical: POY-na. Church: PEH-nah.

  3. Aurum bonum est.

    Gold is good.

    The au sounds like ow in both: OW-room.

  4. Puellae rosas portant.

    The girls carry roses.

    Puellae ends in ae: classical pu-EL-lye, Church pu-EL-leh.

  5. Laudamus Deum.

    We praise God.

    The au in laudamus sounds like ow in both journeys.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Two Vowels, One Sound: ae, oe, auLevel 1Two Vowels, One Sound

Learn This First

The two-vowel sounds are said differently in the two readings, so both sets of sounds come first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.