10.2. Ritual Pronunciation

Although most prayers, invocations, and the like are presented in these documents in modern American English, they may be recited or said in any language according to one’s fluency or custom. However, on occasion, there are times when non-English words are used written in Greek or Coptic script transliterated into uppercase Latin script (e.g. “ABLANATHANALBA” but not grammateus); such words may be considered “barbarous names” or “divine words”, as opposed to normal Greek or Coptic language. Because of their unfamiliarity and mysterious origin, pronouncing them can be a challenge for those not used to Greco-Egyptian magical practices or spiritual traditions where they appear in abundance.

In general, there are two main approaches to pronouncing classical forms of Greek or words written in Greek script from a classical context: using contemporary Greek pronunciation (the “Reuchlinian” system) or using reconstructed pronunciation from classical periods (the “Erasmian” system). Both of these systems are acceptable for use with the Hermetic Synaxis, including whatever accommodations for one’s natural phonological systems are required for comfortable use. However, within the Hermetic Synaxis, a different approach is recommended that attempts to synthesize early Koine Greek and Sahidic Coptic phonology to approximate the pronunciations that would have been likely used in in middle and upper Egypt in the early Roman Imperial period. Stress placement within a word is up to the speaker and any prosodic or rhythmic patterns as needed for intonation or other ritual needs. Although not a strict or historical reconstruction, this system is intended for convenient modern use in a way that clearly distinguishes individual sounds in a systematic way.

Regardless which system one chooses, the most important thing is to be consistent with the choices of pronunciation one makes. If one is operating in a group, the group should decide ahead of time which system to use so that everyone participating is using the same system.

10.2.1. Vowels

10.2.1.1. Monophthongs

Vowel	Transliteration	IPA	Example
Α	A	ɑ	“father”
Ε	E	ɛ	“bed”
Η	Ē	e	“may”
Ι	I	i	“street”
Ο	O	o	“hole”
Υ	Y/U	y	German “über”
Ω	Ō	ɔ	“thought”

10.2.1.2. Diphthongs

Diphthong	Transliteration	IPA	Example
ΑΙ	AI	aɪ∼e	“high” or “bed”
ΑΥ	AU	aw	“cawl”
ΕΙ	EI	i∼eɪ	“street” or “strait”
ΕΥ	EU	ew	“eh-w”
ΟΙ	OI	ø∼oɪ	German “schön” or “coy”
ΟΥ	Ū	u	“boot”
ΥΙ	UI	yi	French “oui”

10.2.1.3. Notes

• Vowel pronunciation generally follow Sahidic Coptic for single vowels and Koine Greek for digraphs. However, Ο and Ω are transposed from this, and thus are closer to classical Attic than either Sahidic Coptic or Koine Greek.

• When two of the same vowel are present consecutively (e.g. ΑΑ) but on their own or in a word mixed with vowels and consonants (e.g. ΑΒΡΑΑΜ), it should be pronounced with either a glottal stop (e.g. “a-ah”) or an aspiration (“aha”) between them. Otherwise, especially in a string of only vowels, just recite the same vowel but longer.

• When ΑΥ or ΕΥ come before another vowel, the ypsilon turns into a consonantal “w” (e.g. ΑΥΩ “awō”).

10.2.2. Consonants

10.2.2.1. Single consonants

10.2.2.1.1. Simple consonants

Consonant	Transliteration	IPA	Example
Β	B	b	“baby”
Γ	G	g	“gold”
Δ	D	d	“daddy”
Ζ	Z	z	“zip”
Κ	K	k	“scam” (breathless K)
Λ	L	l	“liquid”
Μ	M	m	“mine”
Ν	N	n	“nine”
Π	P	p	“spin” (breathless P)
Ρ	R	r	Spanish “pero” (tapped R)
Σ	S	s∼z	“simple”, “jasmine”
Τ	T	t	“stun” (breathless T)

10.2.2.1.2. Complex consonants

Consonant	Transliteration	IPA	Example
Θ	TH	tʰ∼θ	“hothouse”/”terrible” (breathy T) or “thin”
Ξ	KS	ks	“lacks”
Φ	PH	pʰ∼f	“haphazard”/”parody” (breathy P) or “fun”
Χ	KH	kʰ∼x	“rockhard”/”college” (breathy K) or Scottish “loch”
Ψ	PS	ps	“traps”

10.2.2.2. Digraph consonants

Digraph	Transliteration	IPA	Example
ΓΓ	NG	ŋ	“spring”
ΓΚ	NK	ŋk	“think”
ΓΞ	NKS	ŋks	“thinks”
ΓΧ	NKH	ŋkʰ	“anchorage”
ΜΠ	MP	mp∼b	“ampersand”, “boy”
ΝΤ	NT	nt∼d	“pant”, “dog”
ΟΥ	W	w	“wind”

10.2.2.3. Notes

• Σ is normally pronounced /s/ but /z/ when before a voiced consonant, e.g. Β, Γ, or Μ.

• The digraph ΟΥ may be either a vowel or a consonant. If it comes before another vowel not in a string of vowels, it should be read as the consonant “w”; if on its own, as the vowel “ū”. However, if it comes in a long string of vowels e.g. ΑΕΗΙΟΥΩ, it should be read and pronounced as two separate vowels, Ο followed by Υ.

• The complex consonants Θ, Φ, Χ are preferably pronounced as aspirated stops (e.g. “breathy p”) in line with Sahidic Coptic or pre-Koine classical Greek. However, they may be pronounced as fricatives (e.g. /f/ instead of “breathy p”), especially when between vowels.

• When two or more Ρ are present, they should be rolled instead of tapped (Spanish “perro” versus “pero”).

• When two or more of the same complex consonants are present consecutively (e.g. ΧΧ), it may be read either as a longer fricative (e.g. a very drawn-out “loch”) or as a geminated stop with a final aspiration (e.g. “kkh”).

• ΜΠ may be pronounced /b/ at the start of a word.

• ΝΤ may be pronounced /d/ at the start of a word.