Latin for Beginners

by Benjamin L. D'Ooge

Thus in Iū-li-us the first i is a consonant, the second a vowel.

SOUNDS OF THE LETTERS1

1. N.B. The sounds of the letters are best learned by hearing them correctly pronounced. The matter in this section is, therefore, intended for reference rather than for assignment as a lesson. As a first step it is suggested that the teacher pronounce the examples in class, the pupils following.

[4.] Latin was not pronounced like English. The Romans at the beginning of the Christian era pronounced their language substantially as described below.

[5.] The vowels have the following sounds:

Vowels2	Latin Examples
ā as in father ă like the first a in aha´, never as in hat	hāc, stās ă´-măt, că-nās
ē as in they ĕ as in met	tē´-lă, mē´-tă tĕ´-nĕt, mĕr´-cēs
ī as in machine ĭ as in bit	sĕr´-tī, prā´-tī sĭ´-tĭs, bĭ´-bī
ō as in holy ŏ as in wholly, never as in hot	Rō´-mă, ō´-rĭs mŏ´-dŏ, bŏ´-nōs
ū as in rude, or as oo in boot ŭ as in full, or as oo in foot	ū´-mŏr, tū´-bĕr ŭt, tū´-tŭs

2. Long vowels are marked ¯, short ones ˘.

Note. It is to be observed that there is a decided difference in sound, except in the case of a, between the long and the short vowels. It is not merely a matter of quantity but also of quality.

[6.] In diphthongs (two-vowel sounds) both vowels are heard in a single syllable.

Diphthongs	Latin Examples
ae as ai in aisle au as ou in out	tae´-dae gau´-dĕt
ei as ei in eight eu as ĕ´o͝o (a short e followed by a short u in one syllable)	dein´-dĕ seu
oe like oi in toil ui like o͝o´ĭ (a short u followed by a short i in one syllable. Cf. English we)	foe´-dŭs cui, huic