Ask the Latin Teacher

David asks:
I'm wondering if you could tell me the proper pronounciation of the Latin word "harmonicae?" I know this isn't English usage, but your blog seems to be about the closest I can find.

I can see an unmet demand for a blog on Latin and Greek! Well, "harmonica" is the feminine form of the Latin word "harmonicus," from the Greek "harmonikos." The plural of a masculine Latin noun is usually "i"—one alumnus, two alumni, pronounced a-LUM-ni with a long i. The feminine plural is usually "ae"—one alumna, two alumnae. And the "ae" is pronounced with a long e. So "harmonicae" would be pronounced "har-MON-i-key."

However, I haven't studied Latin since just after the fall of the Roman Empire, so take my advice cum granum salis...with a grain of salt.

Comments

[michael murphy]

There are two strands of Latin pronunciation: the classical and the ecclesiastical. "Har-MON-i-key" is classical; "har-MON-i-kay" is ecclesiastical. The ecclesiastical is older; the classical is post Reformation.

P.S. Notice, I didn't hyphenate after a linking verb.

[michael murphy]

P.S. That should read CUM GRANO SALIS. We need the ablative case after CUM.

[ray]

Which latin phrase was first used in 1588 and then again in the year 1759

[Elaine]

e