Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ Table of Contents

Speaking Latin

  1. How is Latin pronounced?
  2. Is Rusticatio the only place I can go to speak Latin?
  3. How do I get started speaking Latin?
  4. What's my name in Latin?

  1. How is Latin Pronounced?

    What you really want to know is whether the Romans said "weni, weedi, weeki," right? Well, yes... and no. We know for a fact that there were multiple ways of pronouncing Latin even within ancient Rome, to say nothing of the variations that must have existed between regions, provinces, and centuries. But for ease and understanding there are two major systems of pronunciation used today. They are called "restored Classical" and "ecclesiastical." They agree on the vast majority of points: after all, we still use the Latin alphabet today and within the churches and universities the tradition of speaking Latin was never completely lost.

    But pronunciation did evolve. We know how Latin was pronounced by analyzing the way Latin names were transliterated into other alphabets such as Greek and Hebrew. Through such analysis scholars have determined that during the Republican period (509 BC-27 BC) the Latin V was pronounced like the English W, hence the Greek transliteration "Ouarro" for Varro. However, by the 1st Century A.D. this was changing, and the sound came to resemble more closely the English "V" sound, and you find Vespasianus transliterated into Greek "Bespasianus."

    Similar changes occurred with other letters: C, which had been equivalent to K, came to be pronounced "ch" (as in cheese) in front of certain vowels, and G and T softened as well (like gelatin and initiation). "Sc" became "sh": hence Scipio (classically "Skeepio") became "Sheepio," and Cicero (classical "Kikero") turned to "Chichero." Ecclesiastical Latin also lost the distinction between the diphthongs AE/OE and simple E. In its turn, the restored Classical brought back the older standard of pronunciation. Occasionally the two systems can cause momentary confusion, but speakers with varying pronunciations in general understand each other quite well.

    In the videos presented here you can hear the two Latin pronunciation systems in action*:

    Terence (Terentius) Tunberg and Milena Minkova (being interviewed in a theater) use restored Classical pronunciation; Luigi (Aloisius) Miraglia (speaking to conference participants outside) uses ecclesiastical pronunciation. The end of the video shows a production of Plautus's Miles Gloriosus where the actors are also using ecclesiastical pronunciation (filmed at the Humanitas conference in Naples, organized by the Accademia Vivarium Novum, summer 2007)
    Father Reginald Foster (interviewed here in a short German film with Portuguese subtitles) uses ecclesiastical pronunciation as he talks about Latin.
    Here again is the indomitable Father Reginald Foster as he greets his students from his hospital room where he is recovering from a bad fall, and promising them his speedy recovery and return to teaching in Rome.
    * The individuals and/or organizations connected with these videos are not associated with SALVI; content contained therein is copyright their respective owners.

    Here are a few resources where you can read more on this topic:

  2. Is Rusticatio the only place I can go to speak Latin?

    Rusticatio is by no means the only place you can go to speak Latin. There are a number of other full-immersion Latin workshops in the United States and abroad, and there might be a cena Latina, prandium Latinum, or circulus Latinus in your area. And if there isn't one, you can start your own!

    Here is a list of some other workshops you can check out. This list is not exhaustive. These workshops are not associated with SALVI.

    • Reginald Foster's Latin Programs (in the U.S.)
      – Annua Exercitatio Communis (year-long program, October to May)
      – Aestiva Eruditio Altior (2-month summer program, June and July)
    • Conventiculum Buffaloniense
      June 28 - June 30, 2010

      The third annual Conventiculum Buffaloniense will take place at the north campus of the University at Buffalo (UB) from Monday, June 28 through Wednesday, June 30.

      Participants in the workshop will engage in immersive active-Latin activities that provide practice in important expressions for basic oral communication. The workshop organizers are: Neil Coffee, Associate Professor of Classics at UB and Anna Andresian, teacher at Sage Ridge School, Independent Day School, Reno, NV.

      The session schedule is in development, but will be modeled on that of last year, including an opening night dinner on the first day (Monday, June 28). For more information (including a sample session schedule from last year) and to register, please visit the workshop's web page: http://classics.buffalo.edu/events/buffaloniense/.

      Questions regarding the workshop should be directed to Neil Coffee at ncoffee(at)buffalo.edu.

    • Conventiculum Latinum Vasintoniense
      preparatory sessions June 30-July 1, 2010; main workshop July 2-8, 2010
    • Conventiculum Dickensoniense
      July 5-10, 2010
    • Conventiculum Latinum Kentuckiense
      July 21-28, 2010
    • Christendom College Latin Immersion Summer Program (for High School Students)
      Two sessions: July 12-18 and July 19-25, 2010

    If there are other workshops we should know about, please tell us!

  3. How do I get started speaking Latin?

    The best way to get started speaking Latin is just to start. If you already know Latin or have started learning it, you already have the tools to start speaking. Make simple sentences with the words you already know - "Habito Baltimorae" (I live in Baltimore), "Sunt mihi duo fratres" (I have two siblings). From there it just builds on itself. You can also look for other students in your class who want to give speaking a try, or, if you are not a student, people in your community who love Latin and are eager to try something new and fun. You can get together on a regular (or irregular) basis for dinners (cenae) or reading sessions in which only Latin is allowed (Latine tantum!). You can also enroll in one of the full-immersion workshops listed under FAQ question #2 above: Is Rusticatio the only place I can go to speak Latin?

    Visit our Resources page, for some links and documents to help you get started.

  4. What's my name in Latin?

    To find your Latin name you can use our Latin Name Finder.

    Nota Bene: The Latin Name Finder is not an exhaustive database of Latin names, so there are many names that do have Latin origins or equivalents that are not in there. The database is being added to on a slow yet regular basis, so we hope that our database becomes more and more robust as time goes on.

    The Latin Name Finder contains only names that are Latin in origin or have a known Latin equivalent; for example, a search for "Amy" produces "Amata" and a search for "John" produces "Ioannes" (or "Iohannes).

    If your name is not of Latin origin or does not have a known Latin equivalent there are a few things you can do to find (or choose) your Latin name. Take the example of the name of the President of the United States, Barack Obama. If President Obama wanted to find his Latin name (and not just use his last name, which declines nicely: Obama, Obamae, Obamae, Obamam, Obama!) here are five ways he could find or create one:

    • He could simply use his real first name, Barack, and it would be indeclinable.
    • When he was young he used to go by "Barry" so his name could be Barrius.
    • He could make up a name that sounds Latin, but doesn't really exist, for example Baraccus.
    • He could find his Latin name based on the meaning of the name Barack, which is "blessed," so his name could be Beatus.
    • He could use the "Give me a Latin name" feature on the Latin Name Finder and be assigned one at random, or pick any Latin name.

    In general we only concern ourselves with first names when choosing our Latin name. Last names (or surnames) remain for the most part unconverted. For example, Senator John McCain's Latin name would be Iohannes McCain.