Using Google Translate For Learning Latin Pronunciation

Recently, I started learning Latin for fun. Latin, considered to be a dead language by many, is still accessible with many resources online, and it is learnable if you are willing to commit time and effort.

While there seems to be a lot of ancient Roman Latin texts and Latin grammar resources online, there also seems to be a dearth of online resources for learning Latin pronunciation with actual audio.

I believe that Google Translate’s Latin translator is a very good resource for learning and practicing Latin pronunciation.

Latin is a language that many people, myself included, would consider to have complicated grammar. From multiple noun declensions to multiple verb tenses, getting used to the language can take a bit of effort.

One thing that makes Latin different and interesting compared with many other languages in the world today is that, for the most part, word order doesn’t make a difference, except in some set phrases.

In English, German, Chinese, Spanish, and many other modern languages, word order is absolutely essential for understanding the meaning of a sentence. But in Latin, what makes sentences comprehensible are the unique noun, adjective, and adverb declensions and unique verb conjugations, which when combined and parsed properly, would produce a comprehensible message.

When I’m studying Latin, I often use Google Translate to hear Latin text pronounced if I’m unsure of a pronunciation or if I just want to practice more.

The Latin voice of Google Translate uses a man’s voice that sounds like a modern Italian accent.

Google Translate’s Latin to English and English to Latin translations are good, but not perfect. But, I think Google Translate’s pronunciation of Latin is very good.

Conclusion

Google Translate is a great place for getting started learning Latin. You can use it for getting fairly accurate translations done, at least for basic level conversations, or for learning vocab.

But Google Translate is also a fantastic source for hearing Latin pronounced properly. So you can use it for practicing your Latin listening / speaking skills.

What did you think of this article? Do you have anything to add? Let’s discuss it in the comments below.

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1 Comment

  1. Funny, Google translate pronounces the simple Latin word “his” (ablative, meaning “these”) with five syllables, sounding like “ah-kay-EE-es-say.”

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