The First Man in Rome

  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”

  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”)

  Capua

  Kap-oo-ah (oo as in “too”)

  career

  kar-ker

  Carinae

  Ka-reen-eye (ka as in “can”)

  Celt

  Kelt (as in “spelt”)

  Cercina

  Ker-kee-nah (ker as in “her”)

  Charybdis

  Kah-rib-dis (rib as in “crib”)

  Cherusci

  Ker-oos-kee

  Cilicia

  Kill-ick-ee-ah (English, Sill-ish-ah)

  Cimbri

  Kim-bree (kirn as in “him”)

  Circei

  Ker-kay-ee

  cloaca

  kloh-ah-kah (kloh as in “so”)

  confarreatio

  kon-fah-ray-ah-tee-oh

  consultant

  kon-sool-toom

  contio

  kon-tee-oh

  corona

  kor-oh-nah

  cottabus

  kot-ah-buss (kot-as in “pot”)

  Croesus

  Kree-suss

  culibonia

  kool-ee-bon-ee-ah (bon as in “upon”)

  Cumae

  Koo-mye

  cunnus

  koo-nuss

  curia

  koo-ree-ah

  cursus honorunt

  koor-suss hon-or-oom (hon as in “upon”)

  curule

  koo-rool

  Danae

  Dan-ah-ay (dan as in “can”)

  dignitas

  deen-yee-tahss (sibilant ending)

  domus

  dom-uss (dom as in “torn”)

  Druentia

  Droo-en-tee-ah

  Epaphroditus

  Ep-ah-froh-dee-tuss (English, Ep-afroh-dye-tuss)

  Euxine

  Erx-een (English, Yewx-een)

  fasces

  fass-kays (fass as in “lass”)

  fasti

  fah-stee

  Fauces Suburae

  Fow-kays (fow as in “cow”) Soo-boo-rye

  Felix

  Fay-licks

  fellator

  fell-ah-tor (fell as in “sell”)

  flamen

  flah-men (men as in “ten”)

  flamen Dialis

  flah-men Dee-ah-lis

  flumen

  floo-men (floo as in “too”)

  Fortuna

  For-too-nah

  forum

  for-oom

  Forum Boarium

  Boh-ah-ree-oom

  Forum Frumentarium

  Froo-men-tah-ree-oom

  Forum Holitorium

  Hol-it-or-ee-oom (hoi as in “doll”)

  Forum Piscinum

  Piss-kee-noom

  Forum Romanum

  Roh-mah-noom

  Gades

  Gah-days

  Gaetuli

  Gye-too-lee

  Gallia

  Gal-ee-ah (gal as in “pal”)

  Gallia Comata

  Com-ah-tah (com as in “torn”)

  garum

  ga-room (ga as in “gap”)

  Garumna

  Gah-room-nah

  Gauda

  Gow-dah (gow as in “cow”)

  gens

  gens (the g as in “get”—word rhymes with “hens”)

  Germalus

  Ger-mah-luss (the g as in “get”—ger as in “her”)

  Germani

  Ger-mah-nee (the g as in “get”—ger as in “her”)

  Getorix

  Gay-tor-ix (ix as in “six”)

  Halicyae

  Hal-ee-kee-eye (hal as in “pal”)

  Hiempsal

  Hee-emp-sal

  Hispania

  Hiss-pah-nee-ah

  Hispania Citerior

  Kit-er-ee-or (kit as in “sit”)

  Hispania Ulterior

  Ool-ter-ee-or

  hubris

  hoo-briss

  lampsas

  Yamp-sahss (yamp as in “lamp”)

  lamus

  Yah-muss

  Icosium

  Ee-koh-see-oom

  Illyricum

  Ill-ir-ee-coom (ir as in “stirrup”)

  imagines

  im-ah-gee-nays (the g as in “gear”)

  imago

  im-ah-goh (im as in “him”)

  imperator

  im-pair-ah-tor

  imperium

  im-pair-ee-oom (English, im-peer-ee-oom)

  insula

  in-soo-lah

  lol

  Yol (as in “doll”)

  Irrumator

  irr-oo-mah-tor (irr as in “stir-rup”)

  iugera

  yew-gair-ah

  iugerum

  yew-gair-oom (yew as in “few”)

  Juba

  Joo-bah

  Jugurtha

  Joo-goor-thah (English, Joo-ger-thuh)

  Julia

  Joo-lee-ah

  Julilla

  Joo-lil-lah

  Juturna

  Joo-toor-nah

  Lares

  Lah-rays

  Lares Permarini

  Pair-mah-ree-nee

&
nbsp; Lares Praestites

  Prye-stit-ays (stit as in “sit”)

  Lautumiae

  Low-too-mee-eye (low as in “cow”)

  Licinia

  Lick-in-ee-ah