For 20-21^st century Ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation, Pope St. Pius X desired that Liturgical Latin be pronounced more Romano (in the Roman style). The pronunciation of Ecclesiastical Latin is rather simple and uniform. Those who have studied Classical Latin will find that there are several significant differences between the pronunciation of Ecc.Lat. and the pronunciation systems for Classical Latin.

The rule for placing the accent or stress in a Latin word is straightforward. Words with two syllables always have the accent on the first syllable. For those with three or more syllables it depends on whether the second-to-last syllable (the penult) has a long vowel or not. If the vowel is long, the accent goes on that syllable; otherwise, it goes on the third-to-last syllable (the antepenult). For example: nomine is pronounced nóh-mi-nay, peccatta is pronounced pec-cáh-tah.  Multi-syllable words may have more than one accent, as in English.

Note: Long vowels are held slightly longer and more stressed than short vowels. Short vowels are pronouced more quickly and are not stressed.

æ, œ as in fare Note: ae is different from æ

au as ou in out

ei as ei in feign

Eo like a-aw

eu like eh'-oo

ou like aw-oo

ui like oo'-ee

Note: Most consonants are pronounced as in English.

c before a, o, u like k

c before e, i, ae, oe like ch in charity

cc before e or i like tch in match

ch before e or i like k

g before a, o, u like g in govern or gate

g before e, i, ae, oe like g in gentle or general

gg before e or i like dj in adjust

gn like the ny in canyon

h is silent, except for mihi and nihil where h is pronounced k

j (consonantal j) like y in yes or yet

p is always like p in palm, it is never silent

ph is like ph in philosophy

ps both consonnants pronounced

qu as in quit

r as in three (i.e. tongue-rolled)

s between two vowels pronounced as s or z; otherwise s

sc before a, o, u like ss in ascribe: sk sound

sc before e or i like the sh in she

su as in suave

t before short i and a vowel combination = ts

t before a long i is pronounced t-ee without s sound

th pronouced as a simple t as in Thomas

sti pronounced as s and t-ee (Hostium = osti-um)

x like the ks in kicks, (in words beginning ex- followed by a vowel or s) = ks

xc before e, i, ae, y = k-sh

xc before other vowels = eks

z like dz in adze

Note: Double consonants are both pronounced but it sounds as if a single consonnant is held longer without a break, like the ll in English tailless.

Thus bel-lum or ter-ram.