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)