Billienus
Bill-ee-ay-nuss (bill as in “will”—ay as in “say”)
Caecilius
Kye-kill-ee-uss (kye as in “eye”—kill as in “will”)
Caelius
Kye-lee-uss
Calpurnius
Kahl-purr-nee-uss (kahl as in “doll”)
Cassius
Kass-ee-uss (kass as in “lass”)
Claudius
Klaw-dee-uss (klaw as in “paw”)—the English way; Klow-dee-uss (klow as in “cow”)—the correct Latin way
Clodius
Kloh-dee-uss (kloh as in “so”)’
Coelius
Koy-lee-uss (koy as in “boy”)
Cornelius
Kor-nee-lee-uss (strictly, Kor-nay-lee-uss)
Curtius
Koor-tee-uss (koor as in “poor”)
Decius
Deck-ee-uss (deck as in “peck”)
Decumius
Deck-oo-mee-uss (oo as in “too”)
Didius
Did-ee-uss (did as in “bid”)
Domitius
Dom-it-ee-uss (dom as in “torn”—it as in “fit”)
Equitius
Ay-kwit-ee-uss (ay as in “say”—kwit as in “fit”)
Fabius
Fay-bee-uss (strictly, Fab-ee-uss, fab as in “cab”)
Fabricius
Fab-rick-ee-uss (fab as in “cab”—rick as in “kick”)
Fannius
Fan-nee-uss (fan as in “tan”)
Flavius
Flay-vee-uss (strictly, Flah-vee-uss)
Fraucus
Frow-kuss (frow as in “cow”)
Fulvius
Full-vee-uss (strictly, Fool-vee-uss)
Furius
Few-ree-uss (strictly, Foo-ree-uss)
Gavius
Gah-vee-uss (gah as in “pa”)
Granius
Grah-nee-uss (grah as in “pa”)
Gratidius
Grah-tid-ee-uss (tid as in “bid”)
Herennius
Her-en-ee-uss
Hortensius
Hor-ten-see-uss (hor as in “or”—ten as in “ten”)
Julius
Joo-lee-uss (joo as in “too”)
Junius
Joo-nee-uss
Labienus
Lab-ee-ay-nuss (lab as in “cab”—ay as in “say”)
Licinius
Lick-in-ee-uss (lick as in “kick”—in as in “sin”)
Livius
Liv-ee-uss (liv as in “spiv”)
Lucilius
Loo-kill-ee-uss
Lusius
Loo-see-uss
Lutatius
Loo-tah-tee-uss (tah as in “pa”)
Macrinus
Mah-kree-nuss (mah as in “pa”)
Maelius
Mye-lee-uss (mye as in “eye”)
Magius
Mah-gee-uss (the g as in “gear”)
Mallius
Mah-lee-uss
Mamilius
Mah-mill-ee-uss (mill as in “will”)
Manlius
Mahn-lee-uss
Marcius
Mar-shuss (more correctly, Mar-kee-uss)
Marius
Mah-ree-uss
Matius
Mat-ee-uss (mat as in “pat”)
Memmius
Mem-ee-uss (mem as in “them”)
Minucius
Min-oo-kee-uss (min as in “sin”—oo as in “too”)
Mucius
Mew-shuss (more correctly, Moo-kee-uss)
Nonius
Noh-nee-uss (noh as in “so”)
Norbanus
Nor-bah-nuss (nor as in “or”—bah as in “pa”)
Octavius
Ock-tay-vee-uss (more correctly, Ock-tah-vee-uss)
Opimius
Oh-pee-mee-uss
Oppius
Op-ee-uss (op as in “top”)
Papirius
Pah-pee-ree-uss
Perquitienus
Pair-kwit-ee-ay-nuss (pair as in “air”)
Petreius
Pet-ray-uss (pet as in “yet”)
Plautius
Plow-tee-uss (plow as in “cow”)
Plotius
Ploh-tee-uss (ploh as in “so”)
Pompeius
Pom-pay-ee-uss (pom as in “torn”—pay as in “say”)
Pomponius
Pom-poh-nee-uss (poh as in “so”)
Popillius
Pop-ill-ee-uss (pop as in “top”—ill as in “will”)
Poppaedius
Pop-eye-dee-uss (pop as in “top”)
Porcius
Por-shuss (more correctly, Por-kee-uss)
Postumius
Poh-stoo-mee-uss (poh as in “so”—stoo as in “too”)
Rutilius
Roo-tee-lee-uss
Saufeius
Sow-fay-ee-uss (sow as in “cow”—fay as in “say”)
Sempronius
Sem-proh-nee-uss (sem as in “hem”—proh as in “so”)
Sergius
Sair-gee-uss (sair as in “air”—the g as in “gear”)
Sertorius
Sair-tor-ee-uss (tor as in “or”)
Servilius
Sair-vee-lee-uss
Siccius
Sick-ee-uss (sick as in “kick”)
Sosius
Soh-see-uss (soh as in “so”)
Sulpicius
Sool-pick-ee-uss (sool as in “fool”—pick as in “kick”)
Terentius
Tair-en-tee-uss (fair as in “air”—en as in “ten”)
Thorius
Thor-ee-uss (thor as in “or”)
Titius
Tit-ee-uss (tit as in “fit”)
Tullius
Too-lee-uss
Turpilius
Tur-pill-ee-uss (tur as in “fur”—pill as in “will”)
Vagiennius
Vah-gee-en-ee-uss (the g as in “gear”)
Vettius
Vet-ee-uss (vet as in “yet”)
The Cognomen (the Last Name, Surname, or Distinguishing Name)
These names had definite meanings, so I shall give the meanings where we know them, as well as a guide to pronunciation.
Africanus
Ah-frick-ah-nuss “of Africa”
Agelastus
Ah-gel-ah-stuss “never smiles” (the g as in “get”)
Ahala
Ah-hah-lah unknown
Ahenobarbus
Ah-hay-noh-barb-uss “red-or bronze bearded”
Albinus
Ahl-bee-nuss “whitish”
Augur
Ow-goor (goor as in “good”) “an augur”
Balearicus
Bah-lay-ah-rick-uss “of the Balearic Isles”
Bambalio
Bahm-bah-lee-oh unknown
Bestia
Best-ee-ah (best as in “rest”) “the beast”
Brocchus
Broh-kuss “buck-toothed”
Brutus
Broo-tuss “animal stupidity
Caecus
Kye-kuss “blind”
Caepio
Kye-pee-oh “the onion vendor”
Caesar
See-zar (Latin, Kye-sar) “a fine head of hair
Caesoninus
Kye-soh-nee-nuss unknown
Caldus
Kahl-duss “lukewarm”
Calvus
Kahl-vuss “bald”
Camillus
Kah-mill-uss unknown
Caprarius
Kah-prah-ree-uss “billy goat”
Carbo
Kar-boh “burned out” or “cinder”
Cato
Kay-toh (Latin, Kah-toh) “shrewd but up-tight
Catulus
Kah-too-luss “pup” or “cub”
Cicero
Siss-er-oh (Latin, Kick-er-oh) “chick-pea”
Cotta
Kot-tah (kot as in “pot”) “win
e splash”(?)
Crassus
Krass-uss (krass as in “ass”) “thick”
Cunctator
Koonk-tah-tor “he who holds back”
Dalmaticus
Dahl-mah-tee-kuss “of Dalmatia”
Dentatus
Den-tah-tuss (den as in “ten”) “born with teeth”
Diadematus
Dee-ah-dem-ah-tuss “of a royal head-band
Dives
Dee-vays “the heavenly one”
Drusus
Droo-suss (droo as in “too”) unknown
Eburnus
Ay-boor-nuss “made of ivory”
Fimbria
Fim-bree-ah (fim as in “Him”) “hair worn in a fringe”
Flaccus
Flah-kuss “big ears”
Galba
Gahl-bah “potbelly”
Getha
Gay-thah “from the ends of the earth”
Glaucia
Glow-kee-ah (glow as in “cow”) “grey-green”
Gracchus
Grah-kuss “jackdaw”(?)
Laenas
Lye-nahss (sibilant ending “priestly mantle”
Lentulus
Len-too-luss (len as in “ten” “tardy” or “slow”
Lepidus
Lep-id-uss (lep as in “step”) “a wonderful fellow”
Limetanus
Lim-ay-tah-nuss (lim as in “dim”) “of a boundary”
Longinus
Long-gee-nuss (the g as in “get”) “in the far distance
Lucullus
Loo-kull-uss (kull as in “pull”) “a little grove of trees”
Macedonicus
Mahn-ked-on-ee-kuss “of Macedonia’’
Mactator
Mahk-tah-tor “slaughterman”
Magnus
Mahg-nuss “great”
Mancinus
Mahn-kee-nuss “of a cripple”
Margarita
Mar-gah-ree-tah “pearl”
Maximus
Mahx-ee-muss “greatest”
Meminius
Mem-in-ee-uss (mem as in “hem”) “of the Gallic Meminii” “hem”)
Merula
Me-roo-lah (me as in “met”) “blackbird”
Metellus
Met-ell-uss (met as in “get”) “a liberated mercenary”
Mus
Moos “rat” or “mouse”
Nasica
Nah-see-kah “nosy”
Nerva
Nair-vah (nair as in “air”) “stringy” or “tough”
Numidicus
Noo-mid-ee-kuss (mid as in “bid”) “of Numidia”
Orator
Oh-rah-tor “the public speaker’’
Orestes
Oh-rest-ays (rest as in “nest”) “mother died in birth”
Paullus
Pow-luss (pow as “cow”) “wee one” or “trifle”
Philippus
Fill-ip-uss (fill as in “will”) “of Philippi”
Pipinna
Pip-in-ah (pip as in “hip) “little boy’s penis”
Piso
Pee-soh “I grind down”
Porcella
Por-kell-ah “piglet” or “little girl’s genitals”
Postumus
Poss-too-muss (poss as in “boss”) “born after father died”
Pulcher
Pool-ker “beautiful”
Ravilla
Rah-vill-ah (vill as in “will”) “talked himself hoarse”
Reginus
Ray-gee-nuss (the “of a queen” g as in “get”)
Rex
Rayx “king”
Rufinus
Roo-fee-nuss “of a red-haired family”
Rufus
Roo-fuss (fuss as in “puss”) “red-haired”
Ruso
Roo-soh “a country bumpkin”
Saturninus
Sah-tur-nee-nuss “of Saturn”
Scaevola
Skye-voh-lah “left-handed”
Scaurus
Skow-russ (show as in “cow”) “puffy feet” or “dropsical”
Scipio
Skee-pee-oh “a ceremonial rod”
Serranus
Se-rah-nuss (se as in “set”) “of a saw” or “serrated”
Sesquiculus
Say-skwee-koo-luss “an arsehole and a half”
Siculus
See-koo-luss “of Sicily”
Silanus
See-lah-nuss “ugly puggy face”
Silo
See-loh “snub-nosed”
Stichus
Stick-uss (stick as in “kick”) slave’s name (Greek)
Strabo
Stray-boh (Latin, Strah-boh) “cross-eyed”
Sulla
Soo-lah unknown
Tubero
Too-bear-oh “hump” or “morally bad”
Varro
Vah-roh “bandy-legged”
Vatia
Vah-tee-ah “knock-kneed”
Verrucosis
Ve-roo-koh-sus (ve as in “vet”) “covered in warts”
Vopiscus
Voh-piss-kuss “survivor of twins”
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE TO OTHER NAMES AND TERMS
Because the guide to pronunciation of male names should familiarize the reader with general Latin pronunciation, the list which follows is considerably abbreviated.
Achaeans
Ah-kye-ans
Achilles
Ah-kill-ees
Adherbal
Ahd-her-bahl
Aedile
eye-deel (English, ee-dyel or ay-dyel)
Aedui
Eye-doo-ee
Aeneas
Eye-nay-ahs (English, An-ee-ass or Ay-nee-ass)
Aeschylus
Eye-skee-luss (English, Ee-skee-luss)
ager publicus
ah-ger (the g as in “got”) pub-lee-kuss
Agger
Ag-er (ag as in “hag”)
Allobroges
Al-oh-broh-gays (at as in “pal”)
Ambrones
Am-broh-nays (am as in “ham’’)
Amor
Ah-mor
Anopaea
Ah-noh-pye-ah
Antigone
Ant-ig-oh-nay (ant as in “pant”—ig as in “pig”)
Apulia
Ah-poo-lee-ah
Aqua
ah-kwah
Aquae Sextiae
Ah-kwye Sex-tee-eye
Arausio
Ah-row-see-oh (row as in “cow”)
Ariadne
Ah-ree-ahd-nay
Aricia
Ah-rick-ee-ah (rick as in “kick”)
Arpinum
Ar-pee-noom (oom is “short”—like the u in “puss”)
Atuatuci
Ah-too-ah-too-kee
Auctoritas
owk-tor-ee-tahss (ow as in “cow”)
Augur
ow-goor (ow as in “cow”—the g as in “good”)
Aurelia
Ow-ray-lee-ah (English, Awe- ree-lee-ah)
Baetis
Bye-tiss
Baiae
Bye-eye
Berenice
Bear-en-ee-kay (English, Bear-en-eye-kee)
Biga
bee-gah
Bithynia
Bith-in-ee-ah (bith as in “pith”)
Boii
Boy-ee
Boiohaemum
Boy-oh-hye-moom (oo sounded like the u in “put”)
Boiorix
Boy-or-ix
Bomilcar
Bom-ill-kar (bom as in “torn”)
Bona Dea
Boh-nah Day-ah
Boni
bonny (as in Scots “bonny”)
Brundisium
Broon-dis-ee-oom (dis as in “this”)
Burdigala
Boor-dee-gah-lah (boor as in “poor”)
Caelian
Kye-lee-ahn
/> Campania
Kam-pah-nee-ah (kam as in “ham”)
Campus
kam-puss (same then as now)
Capena
Kap-ay-nah (kap as in “tap”)
capite censi
kap-it-ayken-see(ken as n “ten”)
Masters of Rome Boxset: First Man in Rome, the Grass Crown, Fortune's Favourites, Caesar's Women, Caesar Page 362
