Zeno The Greek who founded Stoic philosophy.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE TO ROMAN MASCULINE NAMES
To some extent, the pronunciation of classical Latin is still debated, but there are definite conventions among scholars. Liturgical Latin and medieval Latin are pronounced somewhat differently than classical Latin. None of which need worry the reader unduly. The aim of this little section is simply to offer guidelines for those readers without Latin.
One convention adhered to in pronouncing classical Latin is to sound the consonantal v like our English w: thus, the word veritas is properly pronounced weritas. But the rule is not hard and fast, even among scholars, so in the interests of reader comfort, I shall proceed to ignore it.
The diphthong ae should not be pronounced as in “say,” but rather as in “eye”; this convention I have adhered to.
We have several more consonants in English than the Latin language did. The one which concerns the reader most is j. It has been customary in the English language for centuries to spell those Latin words commencing in consonantal i with a j. Thus, Julius should really be lulius, and pronounced Yoo-lee-uss, not Joo-lee-uss. However, I have elected to go with English j.
The Latin g has only one sound, which I shall call guh, as in “gain”—”get”—”give”—”gone”—”gun.” The other g sound in English, which I shall call juh, as in “ginger,” is never used in pronouncing Latin.
Rather than adopt one of the current lexicographic systems of pronunciation, I have elected to use a phonetic system of my own, rhyming the Latin with some ordinary English word pronounced identically on both sides of the Atlantic as well as in the Antipodes—where possible!
And, last but by no means least, none of it really matters save to the purist. The most important thing is that the reader discover and enjoy the world of Republican Rome. Do not feel uncomfortable with the names. Latin is a major root of the English language, and that is a major help in itself. (Note: in some cases I have given the standard English pronunciation first, and put the more correct pronunciation in parentheses, in the lists below.)
The Praenomen (the First Name)
Appius
Ah-pee-uss (ah as in “pa,” “ma”—uss as in “puss”)
Aulus
Ow-luss (ow as in “cow”)
Gaius
Gye-uss (gye as in “eye”)
Gnaeus
Nye-uss (nye as in “eye”)
Lucius
Loo-shuss (more correctly, Loo-kee-uss)
Mamercus
Mah-mer-kuss (mah as in “pa”—mer as in “her”)
Manius
Mah-nee-uss (mah as in “pa”)
Marcus
Mar-kuss
Publius
Pub-lee-uss (pub has the same u sound as “put”)
Quintus
Kwin-tuss (kwin as in “twin”)
Servius
Ser-vee-uss (ser as in “her”)
Sextus
Sex-tuss (sex as in “sex”)
Spurius
Spoo-ree-uss (spoo as in “too”)
Tiberius
Tye-beer-ee-uss (more correctly, Tee-bear-ee-uss)
Titus
Tye-tuss (more correctly, Tee-tuss)
The Nomen (the Family or Gentilicial Name, Indicating the Gens)
Aelius
Eye-lee-uss (eye as in “eye”—uss as in “puss”)
Aemilius
Eye-mil-ee-uss (mil as in “will”)
Annius
An-nee-uss (an as in “tan”)
Antistius
Ahn-tist-ee-uss (ahn as in “gone”—list as in “fist”)
Antonius
An-toh-nee-uss (an as in “tan”—toh as in “so”)
Appuleius
Ah-poo-lay-ee-uss (poo as in “too”—lay as in “say”)
Aquillius
Ah-kwill-ee-uss (kwill as in “will”)
Atilius
Ah-tee-lee-uss
Aurelius
Or-ree-lee-uss (more correctly, Ow-ray-lee-uss)
Baebius
Bye-bee-uss (bye as in “eye”)
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
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br /> 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”) “wine 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”
Masters of Rome Boxset: First Man in Rome, the Grass Crown, Fortune's Favourites, Caesar's Women, Caesar Page 462
