how do you pronounce pyrrhus and canae

**Maeran** · 05-12-2008, 01:34

The problem with 'phonetic' descriptions of words (e.g. I pronounce pyrrhic "pirrick") is that even these broken down elements may end up being pronounced differently depending on where you're from.

You can find descriptions on pronunciation using more standardised phonetic alphabets to represent the actual sounds, but presumably you cannot actually understand them (I certainly can't) without being taught by someone who can actually produce the sounds as a demonstration (otherwise you run into the same problem).

In any case, I can confidently tell you that the P in Pyrrhus is hard, not soft (fyrrhus).

**keravnos** · 05-12-2008, 01:46

actually in ancient greek of the time it would be PU-RRHOS. (double R must be intonated as such)

The adjective should be Pyrrhic. I really don't know where that h after the P came from, I guess it got transfered from the end.

**CrownOfSwords** · 05-12-2008, 03:03

No "ae" in latin sounds like "aye" in english Cannae is properly pronounced as Can naye

**Callahan9119** · 05-12-2008, 04:54

thanks guys, so i was about right with cannae, and i wouldnt be called a dunce by saying pie-rus? for a dumb american

**Ibrahim** · 05-12-2008, 07:05

I stand by abou on this one.
anyways, the sig for Ayce s my ISP address. he's had it there for a month and a half now (much to my annoyance)

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**abou** · 05-12-2008, 07:08

Originally Posted by Ibrahim

anyways, the sig for Ayce s my ISP address. he's had it there for a month and a half now (much to my annoyance)

.

That's not how his sig works. Ayce doesn't even know what your IP would be as it only displays for each individual person viewing the webpage their own statistics.

For example, when I view I see my own stats and no one else's.

**Timoleon** · 05-12-2008, 07:54

The greek word for Pyrrhus is Πύρρος and in modern Greek is pronounced Piros.
But in ancient times it must have been PU-RRHOS, as keravnos said.

The name comes from the word πυρ that means fire.
The first to have that name was the son of Achilles, because of the colour of his hair that was red like the fire. He was the one who founded the kingdom of Epeiros.

**Ibrahim** · 05-13-2008, 06:07

Originally Posted by abou

That's not how his sig works. Ayce doesn't even know what your IP would be as it only displays for each individual person viewing the webpage their own statistics.

For example, when I view I see my own stats and no one else's.

that explains why everyone laughs when I complain that my ISP is on the internet for all to see...guess the joke's on me-again

**abou** · 05-12-2008, 07:05

Originally Posted by keravnos

actually in ancient greek of the time it would be PU-RRHOS. (double R must be intonated as such)

How do you pronounce two Rs like that?

Originally Posted by CrownOfSwords

No "ae" in latin sounds like "aye" in english Cannae is properly pronounced as Can naye

Aye in English sounds the same as eye in English.

**Nabaati** · 05-12-2008, 15:40

Originally Posted by Maeran

You can find descriptions on pronunciation using more standardised phonetic alphabets to represent the actual sounds, but presumably you cannot actually understand them (I certainly can't) without being taught by someone who can actually produce the sounds as a demonstration (otherwise you run into the same problem).

If you learn the principles underlying phonetic alphabets then it's fairly easy to reproduce some version of most sounds with a little practice. You just have to pay attention to where your tongue is in your mouth.