Consonant Combinations & Rules
Consonantes et Structurae
1. Hard C and G (Always)
C / G
Unlike English or Ecclesiastical (Church) Latin, Classical Latin NEVER soft-pronounces C or G before 'e' or 'i'.
Cicero = "Kih-keh-roh" (Never "Siss-eh-ro")
Regina = "Reh-gee-nah" with hard G (Never "Reh-jee-nah")
Regina = "Reh-gee-nah" with hard G (Never "Reh-jee-nah")
2. The Consonantal 'V' (W sound)
V / U
In Classical Latin, 'V' represents the consonant sound of English 'W'.
Veni, vidi, vici = "Weh-nee, wee-dee, wee-kee"
Via = "Wee-ah"
Via = "Wee-ah"
3. Aspirated Digraphs (CH, TH, PH)
Greek Imports
In Greek loanwords, these represent a hard consonant followed by a slight puff of breath (h).
CH = 'k' + breath (e.g., pulcher)
TH = 't' + breath (e.g., theatrum)
PH = 'p' + breath, later becoming 'f' (e.g., philosophia)
TH = 't' + breath (e.g., theatrum)
PH = 'p' + breath, later becoming 'f' (e.g., philosophia)
4. Double Consonants
LL, MM, TT, PP
Double consonants are held longer or pronounced distinctly twice (like in "bookkeeper" or "pen-knife").
Puella = "Poo-el-lah" (Distinct 'l' hold)
Pulla vs Pula are distinct words in pitch and rhythm.
Pulla vs Pula are distinct words in pitch and rhythm.