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The following are pronunciations of often difficult-to-pronounce common biblical words.  Use the phonetic guide below for examples of the various “sounds” and how to pronounce names in the Bible.

If you have suggestions or requests for other biblical pronunciations, please email feedback@www.bibleblender.com.

Phonetic guide

a – at, cat, mat, snap

ah – father, bother

ahr – lard, yard

ai – air, care, fair, prayer, there

aw – jaw, saw, all, caught

ay – [long “a”] day, pay, obey, weigh

e, eh – bed, pet, peck

ee – [long “e”] beat, easy, seem

er – error

ew – few, boo, zoo

i – [long “i”] tie, sky, side, buy, eye

ie [long “i”] tie, sky, side, buy, eye

eye [long “i”] tie, sky, side, buy, eye

i, ih – it, tip, active

ihr – ear, fear

o – cot, hot, not

oh – [long “o”] bone, go, know, toe

oi – boy, destroy

oo – boot, rule, youth

oor – poor

or – for, glory

ou – how, loud, now, out

u – book, foot, put, pull, wood

uh – alone, banana, linen

uhn – ton, won, fun

uhr – bird, further, her

Words in upper case indicate emphasis (e.g. Ohio – oh-HI-oh or Hamburger (HAM-bur-ger)

Bible pronunciation guide – How to pronounce names and locations in the bible

A

  • Abaddon (uh-BAD-uhn)
  • Abimelech (uh-BIM-uh-lek)
  • Abram (AY-bruhm)
  • Absalom (AB-suh-luhm)
  • Abu (ah-BOO)
  • Admah (AD-muh)
  • Aegean (ih-JEE-uhn)
  • Agrippa (uh-GRIP-uh)
  • Ahimelech (uh-HIM-uh-lek)
  • Alphaeus (al-FEE-us)
  • Ammonite (AM-uh-nit)
  • Amnon (AM—non)
  • Amorite (AM-uh-rit)
  • Antipas (AN-tuh-puhs)
  • Apostate (uh-PAHS-state)
  • Apostolic (uh-PAH-stah-lick)
  • Aram (AHR-uhm)
  • Aramaic (air-uh-MAY-ick)
  • Aramean (air-hu-MEE-uhn)
  • Arphaxed or Arphaxad (ahr-FAX-ad)
  • Arriyuk or Arioch (EHR-ih-ahk)
  • Asenath (ASS-eh-nath)
  • Ashteroth (ASH-tuh-rahth)
  • Athena (uh-THEE-nuh)

B

  • Baal (BAY-uhl)
  • Babel (BAY-buhl)
  • Balak (BAY-lak)
  • Barabbas (buh-RAB-uhs)
  • Barachiah (bair-uh-KEE-uh)
  • Barak (BAIR-uhk)
  • Bartholomew (bar-TH-ALL-o-mew)
  • Basemath (BAS-uh-math)
  • Bashan (BAY-shan)
  • Beelzebub (bee-EL-zih-buhb)
  • Beersheba (bee-ehr_SHEE-buh)
  • Bel (BAYL)
  • Bela (BEE-luh)
  • Ben-Ammi (ben_AM-eye)
  • Bera (BEE-rub)
  • Byzantine (BIZ—in-teen)

C

  • Ceasar (SEE-zuhr)
  • Ceasarean (sih-ZAR-ee-uhn)
  • Caiaphas (KAY-uh-fuhs)
  • Cana (KAY-nuh)
  • Canaan (KAY-nuhn)
  • Canaanite (KAY-nuh-night)
  • Capernaum (kuh-PUHR-nee-uhn)
  • Carthage (KAHR-thij)
  • Caspian (KAS-pee-uhn)
  • Cephas (SEE-phus)
  • Chaldean (kal-DEE-uhn)
  • Cleopas (KLEE-uh-puhs)
  • Cleophas (KLEE—oh-fuhs)
  • Clopas (KLOH-puhs)
  • Colossians (kuh-LOSH-shee-uhnz)
  • Crete (KREET)

D

  • Damascus (duh-MAS-kuhs)
  • Darius (duh-REE-uhs)
  • Deuteronomy (doo-tuh-RON-uh-mee)

E

  • Ebenezer (eb-uh-NEE-zuhr)
  • Eber (EE-buhr)
  • Ecclesiastes (ih-KLEE-zee-ass-teez)
  • Edessa (ih-DEH-suh)
  • Edom (EE-duhm)
  • Edommite (EE-duh-might)
  • Eisegesis (EYE-suh-JEE-suhs)
  • Elamites (EE-luh-mights)
  • Elimelech (ih-LIM-uh-lek)
  • Ellasar (el-LAY-sahr)
  • Elohim (el-oh-HEEM)
  • Enoch (EE-nahk)
  • Enosh (EE-nosh)
  • Ephesus (EF-uh-suhs)
  • Ephesians (ih-FEE-zhuhnz)
  • Ephraim (EE-free-uhm)
  • Esau (EE-saw)
  • Esdras (EZ-druhs)
  • Esther (ES-tuhr)
  • Eucharist (YOO-kuh-ruhst)
  • Euphrates (yoo-FRAY-teez)
  • Exegesis (ek-suh-JEE-suhs)
  • Exegetical (ek-suh-JEH-tih-kuhl)
  • Ezekiel (ih-ZEE-kee-uhl)
  • Ezra (EZ-ruh)

F

  • Famine Stela (FAH-men STEE-luh)
  • Flavius (FLAY-vee-uhs)
  • Fortunatus (for-chuh-NAY-tuhs)

G

  • Gaash (GAY-ash)
  • Gabbatha (GAB-uh-thah)
  • Gadara (GAD-uh-ruh)
  • Gadarenes (GAD-uh-reens)
  • Galatia (guh-LAY-shuh)
  • Galathians (guh-LAY-shuns)
  • Galeed (GAL-ee-ed)
  • Galilee (GAL-uh-lee)
  • Gerar (geh-RAHR)
  • Geshur (GESH-uhr)
  • Gezer (GEE-zuhr)
  • Gibeah (GIB-ee-uh)
  • Gihon (G-EYE-hon)
  • Gilead (GIL-ee-uhd)
  • Gilgamesh (GIL-guh-mesh)
  • Gnostic (NAHS-tick)
  • Goiim (GOY-im)
  • Golgotha (GOL-guh-thuh)

H

  • Habakkuk (HA-buh-kuhk))
  • Hadad (HAY-dad)
  • Hagar (HAY-gahr)
  • Haggai (HAD-eye)
  • Hamath (HAY-math)
  • Hamor (HAY-mor)
  • Hanani (huh-NAY-nigh)
  • Hananiah (han-uh-NIGH-uh)
  • Hebron (HEE-bruhn)
  • Heretic (HER-uh-tick)
  • Heretical (huh-RE-tih-kuhl)
  • Hermes (HURH-meez)
  • Hermon (HUHR-much)
  • Herod (HER-uhd)
  • Herodias (hih-ROH-dee-uhs)
  • Herodotus (hih-RAH-duh-tuhs)
  • Hezekiah (hez-uh-KIGH-uh)
  • Hezron (HEZ-ruhn)
  • Hierapolis (high-uh-RAHP-us-luhs)
  • Hittite (HI-tight)
  • Hobab (HOH-bab)
  • Hori (HOR-eye)
  • Hosea (hoh-SEE-uh)

I

  • Idumea (ID-yoo-MEE-uh)
  • Ignatius (ig-NAY-shuhs)
  • Imhotep (em-HOH-tep)
  • Iscariot (iss-CAR-ee-ot)
  • Ishmael (ISH-may-uhl)

J

  • Jabal (JAY-buhl)
  • Jairus (JAY-uh-ruhs)
  • Japheth (JAY-feth)
  • Javan (JAY-van)
  • Jebusite (JEB-yoo-sight)
  • Jehoash (juhHOH-ash)
  • Jehoiachin (juh-HOI-uh-kin)
  • Joab (JOH-ab)
  • Job (JOHB or JOE-b)
  • Josephus (Joh-SEE-fuhs)
  • Josiah (joh-SIE-us)
  • Judaism (JOO-duh-iz-uhm)
  • Judea (joo-DEE-uh)
  • Judas (JEW-duhs)

K

  • Kadesh (KAY-desh)
  • Karnalm (kahr-NAY-lim)
  • Kedar (KEE-dahr)
  • Kedesh (KEY-desh)
  • Kedorlaomer (KED-awr-LAY-oh-muhr)
  • Kerak (KEHR-ahk)
  • Keturah (kih-TOO-rah)
  • Keziah (kih-Z-EYE-uh)
  • Kibrothhattaavah (kib-roth-huh-TAY-uh-vuh)
  • Kidron (KID-ruhn)
  • Kimah (K-EYE-mah)
  • Kisoh (K-EYE-shon)
  • Kohath (KOH-hath)
  • Kyrios (KOO-ree-os)

L

  • Laban (LAY-ban)
  • Labdanum (LAB-duh-nuhm)
  • Laodicea (lay-oh-duh-SEE-uh)
  • Lapis Lazuli (lap-uhs-LA-zuh-lee)
  • Lascivious (luh-SI-vee-uhs)
  • Lasea (luh-SEE-uh)
  • Lasha (LAY-shuh)
  • Lasharon (luh-SHAIR-uhn)
  • Lazurs (La-zuh-ruhs)
  • Lebanon (LEB-uh-nuhn)
  • Lebbaeus (lih-BEE-uhs)
  • Lehabites (LEE-huh-bite)
  • Lemuel (LEM-yoo-uhl)
  • Leshem (LEE-shuhm)
  • Levirate (LEE-vuh-ruht)
  • Libation (lie-BAY-shuhn)
  • Lilith (LIH-luhth)
  • Ludim (LOO-dim)
  • Lycaonia (lik-ih-OH-nee-uh)
  • Lycaonian (lik-uh-OH-nee-uhn)
  • Lycia (LIH-shee-uh)
  • Lydda (LIH-duh)
  • Lydia (LIH-dee-uh)
  • Lysanias (li-SAY-nee-uhs)
  • Lysias (LIS-ee-uhs)
  • Lystra (LIS-truh)

M

  • Maacah (MAY-uh-kuh)
  • Maacathite (may-AK-uh-thite)
  • Maadai (may-uh-DAY-i)
  • Maaseiah (mah-uh-SIE-uh)
  • Maasai (MAY-uh-sie)
  • Maat (muh-AHT)
  • Maath (MAY-ath)
  • Maccabean (ma-kuh-BEE-uhn)
  • Maccabee (MAK-uh-bee)
  • Macedonia (ma-suh-DOH-nee-uh)
  • Machabees (MAK-uh-beez)
  • Machbanai (MAK-buh-nie)
  • Machi (MAY-kie)
  • Machir (MAY-kihr)
  • Machpelah (mak-PEE-lah)
  • Madai (MAY-die)
  • Magadan (MAG-uh-dan)
  • Magdala (MAG-duh-luh)
  • Magdalen (MAG-duh-luhn)
  • Magdalene _MAG-duh-leen)
  • Magog (MAY-gog)
  • Mahalaleel (muh-hay-luh-LEE-uhl)
  • Mahalalel (muh-HAL-uh-luhl)
  • Mahalath (MAY-huh-lath)
  • Mahanaim (may-hun-NAY-im)
  • Mahar-shalal-hash-baz (MAY-huhr-SHAL-al-hash-baz)
  • Mahlah (MAH-luh)
  • Mahli (MAH-lie)
  • Mahseiah (muh-SIE-uh)
  • Malachi (MA-luh-kie)
  • Malcam (MAL-kam)
  • Malchiah (mal-KIE-uh)
  • Malchishua (mal-kie-SHOO-uh)
  • Malchus (MAL-kuhs)
  • malefactor (MAL-uh-fak-tuhr)
  • Malkishua (mal-kie-SHOO-uh)
  • Mamre (MAM-ree)
  • Manaen (MAN-ee-uhn)
  • Manasseh (muh-NA-suh)
  • Manoah (muh-NOH-us)
  • Mara (MAY-ruh)
  • Marah (MAY-rah)
  • Maralah (MAHR-uh-luh)
  • Mattaniah (mat-uh-nie-uh)
  • Mattathias (ma-tuh-THIE-uhs)
  • Mattenai (MAT-uh-nie)
  • Matthat (MAT-that)
  • Matthias (muh-THIE-uhs)
  • Mattithiah (mat-uh-THIE-uh)
  • Mazzaroth (MAX-uh-roth)
  • Medaba (MED-uh-bah)
  • Mede (MEED)
  • Media (MEE-dee-uh)
  • Megiddo (mih-GIH-doh)
  • Mehetabeel (muh_HET-uh-bee-hul)
  • Mehetabel (muh_HET-uh-bel)
  • Melchishua (mel-kie-SHOO-uh)
  • Melchizedek (mel-KIH-zuh-dek)
  • Melea (MEE-lee-uh)
  • Melech (MEL-ik)
  • Melita (ME-luh-tuh)
  • Menahem (MEN-uh-hem)
  • Mene (MEE-nee)
  • Meonenim (mee-AHN-uh-him)
  • Mephibosheth (mih-FIG-oh-sheth)
  • Merab (MEE-rab)
  • Merari (mih-RAHR-EYE)
  • Merarite (mih-RAH-right)
  • Merathaim (mer-uh-THAY-im)
  • Mered (MEE-red
  • Meribah (MER-ih-bah)
  • Merodach (MER-oh-dak)
  • Merodach-baladan (MER-oh-dak-BAL-uh-dan)
  • Meroz (MEE-roz)
  • Mesha (MEE-shuh)
  • Meshach (MEE-shak)
  • Meshech (MEE-shek)
  • Meshillemith (muh-SHIL-uh-mith
  • Meshillemoth (muh-SHIL-uh-moth)
  • Meshullemeth (muh-SHUHL-eh-meth)
  • Mesopotamia (mes-oh-puh-TAY-mee-un)
  • Mete (MEET)
  • meteyard (MEET-yahrd)
  • Methegammah (meth-ig-AM-uh)
  • methuselah (mih-THOO-suh-luh)
  • Micah (M-EYE-kuh)
  • Micaiah (muh-KIE-uh)
  • Micheas (MIE-ke-uhs)
  • Machmas (MIK-mas)
  • Michri (MIK-rie)
  • Midian (MID-ee-uhn)
  • Migdol (MIG-dol)
  • Miktam (MIK-tam)
  • Milcah (MIL-kuh)
  • Miletum (mie-LEE-tuhm)
  • Mina (MIE-nuh)
  • Miriam (MIR-ee-uhm)
  • Mishael (MISH-ay-el)
  • Mithra (MITH-ruh)
  • Mithredath (MITH-ruh-dath)
  • Mithridates (mith-ruh-DAY-teez)
  • Mitylene (mit-uh-LEE-nuh)
  • Mizar (MIE-zahr)
  • Mispah (MIZ-puh)
  • Mizraim (mis-RAY-im)
  • Mnason (NAY-suh)
  • Moab (MOH-ab)
  • Moabite (MOH-uh-bite)
  • Molech (MOH-lek)
  • Mpoh (MOF)
  • Mordecai (MOR-duh-kie)
  • Moreh (MOH-ray)
  • Moresheth (MOR-uh-sheth)
  • Moriah (muh-RIE-uh)
  • Mosoch (MOH-sok)
  • Mushi (MOO-shie)
  • Mysia (MISH-ee-uh)

N

  • Naamah (NAY-uh-muh)
  • Naggai (NAG-uh-eye)
  • Nahor (NAY-hor)
  • Naphish (NAY-fish)
  • Naphtali (NAF-tuh-lie)
  • Naphtuhim (NAF-tuh-him)
  • Nashim (NAY-shim)
  • Neapolis (nee-A-puh-lis)
  • Nebaioth (nee-BAY-yoth)
  • Nebuchadnezzar (neb-ud-kuhd-NEZ-uhr)
  • Negeb (NEG-eb)
  • Negev (NEG-ev)
  • Nehemiah (nee-uh-MIE-uh)
  • Nehemias (nee-uh-MIE-uhs)
  • Nephilim (NEF-uh-lim)
  • Nicodemus (nik-uh-DEE-muhs)
  • Nimrod (HIM-rahd)
  • Noe (NOH-ee)

0

  • Obadiah (oh-buh-DIE-uh)
  • Oholah (oh-HOH-lah)
  • Onan (OH-nan)
  • Ophir (OH-fuhr)
  • Ossuary (OSH-oo-er-ee)
  • Ozem (OH-zihm)

P

  • Paarai (PAY-uh-rie)
  • Padan or Paddan (PAY-duhn)
  • Padan-aram or Paddan-aram (pay-duhn-AIR-uhm)
  • Paphos (PAY-fos)
  • Paraclete (PAIR-uh-kleet)
  • Parakletos (pair-AHK-lay-tos)
  • Paran (PAY-ruhn)
  • Parmenas (PAHR-mee-nuhs)
  • Pasch (PASK)
  • Patara (PAT-uh-rah)
  • Patmos (PAT-mos)
  • Pedaiah (pih-DAY-yuh)
  • Pekah (PEE-kah)
  • Peleg (PEE-leg)
  • Pentateuch (PEN-tuh-took)
  • Perazim (puh-RAY-zim)
  • Peres (PEE-rez)
  • Perez (PEE-riz)
  • Perizzites (PER-uh-zights)
  • Pharisee (FAIR-uh-see)
  • Philemon (fih-LEE-muhn)
  • Philip (FIL-ip)
  • Philippians (fuh-LIP-ee-uhns)
  • Philistia (fuh-LIS-tee-uh)
  • Philistine (fuh-LIS-teen)
  • Pishon or Pison (P-EYE-shon)
  • Polycarp (POL-ee-kahrp)
  • Pontius Pilate (PON-chuhs-PIE-luht)
  • Porcius Festus (POR-shuhs-FES-tuhs)
  • Potentate (POH-tuh-nu-tayt)
  • Potiphar (POT-uh-fahr)
  • Potiphera (poh-TIH-fih-ruh)
  • Proselyte (PRAH-suh-light)
  • Pseudepigrapha (soo-dih-PIH-gruh-fuh)
  • Ptah (p-tah)
  • Ptolemy )TOL-uh-mee)
  • Publius (PUHB-lee-uhs)

Q

  • Qere (KUH-ree)
  • Qoheleth (koh-HEL-ith)
  • Quartus (KWOR-tuhs)
  • Qumran (KOOM-rahn)

R

  • Ra (RAH)
  • Raamah (RAY-uh-mah)
  • Raamses (ray-AM-seez)
  • Rabbah (RAB-uh)
  • Rabbath (RAB-uhth)
  • Rabbith (RAB-ith)
  • Rabboni (ra_BOH-nie)
  • Rabmag (RAG-mag)
  • Rahab (RAY-hab)
  • Rameses (RAM-us-seez)
  • Ramses (RAM-seez)
  • Raphaim (RAF-ay-im)
  • Rehabiah (ray-huh-BIE-uh)
  • Reheboam (ree-uh-BOH-uhm)
  • Rehoboth (rih-HOH-bohth)
  • Rephael (REF-ay-uhl)
  • Rephaim (REF-ay-im)
  • Rephidim (REF-ih-dim)
  • Reu (REE-oo)
  • Reuel (ROO-el)
  • Reumah (ROO-muh)
  • Riblah (RIB-luh)
  • Riphath (RIE-fath)
  • Rizpah (RIZ-pah)
  • Rodanim (ROH-duh-nim)
  • Rumah (ROO-mah)

S

  • Saba (SAY-buh)
  • Sabachthani (suh-BAK-thuh-nie)
  • Sabaoth (SAB-ay-oth)
  • Sabeans (suh-BEE-uhnz)
  • Sadducee (SAD-joo-see)
  • Sadoc (SAY-doc)
  • Saffron (SAF-ruhn)
  • Sakkuth (SAK-uhth)
  • Salome (suh-LOH-mee)
  • Samos (SAY-mos)
  • Sanhedrin (SAN-heh-drihn)
  • Sarai (SAIR-eye)
  • Sardis (SAHR-dis)
  • Sargon (SAHR-gahn)
  • Scepter (SEP-tuhr)
  • Scythe (S-EYE-TH)
  • Seir (SEE-uhr)
  • Sekhemkhet (Sek-kem-keht)
  • Sela or Selah (SEE-luh)
  • Seleucia (suh-LOO-shee-uh)
  • Semei (SEM-ee-i)
  • Semite (SEH-might)
  • Semitism (SEM-ih-tiz-uhm)
  • Senir (SEE-nuhr)
  • Seenacherib (suh-NAK-uh-rib)
  • Sepharad (suh-FAR-ad)
  • Sepharvites (SEE-fahr-vites)
  • Sepulcher or Sepulchre (SEP-uhl-kuhr)
  • Sergius Paulus (SUHR-juhs PAW-luhs)
  • El Shaddai (el shah-DIE)
  • Shadrach (SHAD-rak)
  • Shalohm or shalom (shah-LOHM)
  • Sharon (SHAIR-un)
  • Shaveh Kirlathaim (SHAY-veh kee-RIE-a-them)
  • Sheba (SHE-bah)
  • Shebat (SHEE-bat)
  • Shechem (SHEE-kuhm)
  • Shekel (SHEK-uhl)
  • Shema (SHEE-muh)
  • Sheol (SHEE-ohl)
  • Shephelah (shih-FEE-luh)
  • Shibboleth (SHIB-uh-lith)
  • Shiloah (shi-LOH-ah)
  • Shiloh (SH-EYE-loh)
  • Shimei (SHIM-ee-eye)
  • Shinar (SH-EYE-nahr)
  • Shur (SHOOR)
  • Siddim (SID-im)
  • Sikh (SEEK)
  • Siloam (si-LOH-uhm)
  • Sinai (S-EYE-nie)
  • Smyrna (SMUHR-nuh)
  • Sodom (SOD-uhm)
  • Succoth (SUK-oth)
  • Synoptic (sin-OP-tik)
  • Syriac (SIHR-ee-ak)
  • Syrtis (SUHR-tuhs)

T

  • Tabeel (TAB-ee-uhl)
  • Tabor (TAY-buhr)
  • Tamar (TAY-marh)
  • Tarshsish (TAHR-shish)
  • Tebeth (TEE-beth)
  • Tehaphnehes (tee-HAF-nih-heez)
  • Tekoa or Tekoah (tuh-KOH-uh)
  • Teraphim (TER-uh-fim)
  • Tetrarch (TET-rahrk)
  • Thaddaeus (THA-dee-us)
  • Thebes (THEEBZ)
  • Thebez (THEE-behz)
  • Theophilus (THEE-of-UH-LUHS)
  • Thessalonians (thes-uh-LOH-nee-uhnz)
  • Theudas (THOO-duhs)
  • Thyatira (th-eye-uh-TIE-ruh)
  • Tiberius (ti-BIHR-ee-uhs)
  • Tigris (TIE-gris)
  • Tiras (TIGH-ruhs)
  • Tobit (TOH-bit)
  • TSohar (TSOH-hahr)
  • Tubal (TYOO-buhl)
  • Tudhalia (TYOO-hal-ia)
  • Tyrannus (tie-RAN-uhs)
  • Tyre (TIRE)

U

  • Uphaz (YOO-faz)
  • Uri (YOO-ri)
  • Uriah (yoo-rie-uh)
  • Urim (YOOR-im)
  • Uz (UHZ)

V

  • Vellum (VEH-luhm)
  • Vespasian (ves-PAY-zhuhn)
  • Vigilius (vih-JIL-ee-uhs)
  • Virgil (VUHR-juhl)
  • Vulgate (VUHL-gayt)

W

  • Wadi (WAH-dee)
  • Wycliffe (WIK-lif)

X

  • Xanthicus (ZAN-thih-kuhs)
  • Xerxes (ZERK-seez)
  • Xylon (KSOO-lon)

Y

  • Yah (YAH)
  • Yahweh (YAH-weh)
  • Yehoshua (yuh-HOSH-you-uh)
  • Yom Kippur (yawm-KIP-uhr)

Z

  • Zaanan (ZAY-uh-nan)
  • Zabbai (ZAB-eye)
  • Zacchaeus (za-KEE-uhs)
  • Zadok (ZAY-dok)
  • Zaphenath-Paneah (ZAF-ee-nath-pan-EE-uh)
  • Zara (ZAIR-uh)
  • Zarephath (ZAIR-uh-fath)
  • Zebah (ZEE-bah)
  • Zebedee (ZE-boo-dee)
  • Zeboim (zuh-BOH-im)
  • Zebolim (zuh-BOH-lim)
  • Zeeb (ZEE-uhb)
  • Ziba (Z-EYE-buh)
  • Zoar (ZOH-uhr)
  • Zuzim (ZOO-zim)
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