General Vowel Rules (Latin)
Vowels
A
Always as in father (AH), never as in say, or saw, or sand. Patri: PAH-tree
E
Always as in set (EH), never as in evil or obey. Deus: DEH-oos
I
Always as in machine (EE), never as in sit or site. Christe: KREE-steh
O
Always as in cross (AW), never as in go. Gloria: GLAW-ree-ah
U
Always as in moon (OO), never as in useful. Spiritu: SPEE-ree-too
Y
Always as in duty (EE), never as in myth. Kyrie: KEE-ree-eh
Dipthongs
AE and OE
AI, OU, and EI
AU and AY
UI, UE, UA, and UO
Consecutive Vowels
Always like EH in set, never like AY in obey.
Always two distinct sounds: AH-ee, AW-oo or EH-ee
Almost as one syllable with the final sound very short and at the last instant.
AH-oo or AH-ee.
When preceded by Q or NG, and followed by another vowel,
emphasize the second vowel. Qui: koo-EE
Always two distinct sounds: Filii: FEE-lee-ee
Consonants
C
Three sounds:
1. Before e, I, y, ae, oe, eu—like CH in chair
2. Before a, o, u, and all consonants, like K in kit
3. Preceded by X, followed by e, like SH in shell (excelsis: eck-SHEHL-sees)
G
Two sounds:
1. Before e, I, oe, and y, as in general (genitum: JEH-nee-toom)
2. All other cases, as in go (Gloria: GLAW-ree-ah)
GN
Always like NY as in canyon (agnus: ah-NEEYOOS)
H
Never aspirated (hymnus: EEM-noos)
J
Always like English y, pronounced EE (Jesus: eeYEH-soos)
PH
Always pronounced as F
Q
Always koo, though very short with the emphasis on the next vowel (qui: kooEE)
R
Always rolled at the beginning of a word, somewhat less rolled in the middle of work
S
Always as in sun, never as in rise (z)
SC
Two sounds:
1. Before I, e, y, ae, oe, and eu, SH as in shed
2. Before a, o, and u, SK as in skull
SCH
Always as in scholar
TH
Always a hard sound, as in tent, never as in think or than
TI
Two sounds:
1. When followed by a vowel and preceded by any letter except s, t, or x, ti is pronounced tzee or tsee
2. When followed by a vowel and not preceded by s, t, or x, it remains its own sound
X
Two sounds:
1. At the beginning of a word, when preceded by E and followed by a vowel,
pronounced GS (exalto: egh-SAWL-taw)
2. All other instances, as CKS (pax: PAHKS)