how to pronounce augustine

johnnyswife · #1 Aug 23, '05, 7:34 am

This may be a silly question, but how do I pronounce St. Augustine? I've heard it pronounced two ways: 'aw gus teen and a 'gus tin -- which pronunciation refers to the Bishop of Hippo and the writer of Confessions?

Thank you!

Anima Christi · #2 Aug 23, '05, 7:43 am

I think either is acceptable, however it has always been my belief that the most Catholic pronunciation is "A' gus tin." I know of a "St. Augustine Church" and it is pronounced "A' gus tin."
"Aw gus teen" only refers to the city in Florida.

**mercygate** · #3 Aug 23, '05, 8:11 am

Ah-GUS-tin.

St.Curious · #4 Aug 23, '05, 10:05 am

So...

AW-GUS-teen ?

AW-GUS-tin ?

a-GUS-tin ?

Fizendell · #5 Aug 23, '05, 12:52 pm

a-GUS-tin

is how I've heard it lately too. Course I always thought it was AUG-us-teen.... so I'm glad to know the correct pronunciation before I embarrass myself in conversation!

It's like Celtic... if you're referring to a basketball team in Boston, it's the SELL-tics... if you're referring to anything Irish, it's KEL-tic!

severinus · #6 Aug 23, '05, 1:03 pm

I vote for au-GUS-tin.

Joseph Bilodeau · #7 Aug 23, '05, 1:07 pm

Anything from

ow-goose-TEE-neh

to

GUS.

severinus · #8 Aug 23, '05, 1:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseph Bilodeau

Anything from

ow-goose-TEE-neh

to

GUS.

Hey! That's Saint Gus to you!

Joseph Bilodeau · #9 Aug 23, '05, 1:30 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by severinus

Hey! That's Saint Gus to you!

I stand corrected.

cardenio · #10 Aug 23, '05, 6:36 pm

uh-GUS-tin

but

aw-gis-TIN-i-an

edward_george · #11 Aug 23, '05, 7:00 pm

To me, it doesn't matter. It's like the difference, when pronouncing "aunt," between saying "ant" or "awnt." I usually go with the latter, mostly because of the phonetic way I pronounce some things

johnnyswife · #12 Aug 23, '05, 8:08 pm

Thank you for all the responses! We have a son on the way and we have been reading the works of St. Augustine and we are considering naming our son Augustine. However, we had to make sure we had the pronunciation correct so we didn't look like total idiots when people asked us why we named him Augustine and we tried to explain that he was named after St. Augustine -- it might help if we could pronounce his name correctly as well as talk about how his life and writings inspired us

.

Gottle of Geer · #13 Aug 24, '05, 12:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyswife

This may be a silly question, but how do I pronounce St. Augustine? I've heard it pronounced two ways: 'aw gus teen and a 'gus tin -- which pronunciation refers to the Bishop of Hippo and the writer of Confessions?

Thank you!

## 'aw gus tin

- in the UK at least. The two you give look as though they may be of Spanish origin. ##

Lead Me Home · #14 Mar 29, '11, 5:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyswife

I've heard it pronounced two ways: 'aw gus teen and a 'gus tin -- which pronunciation refers to the Bishop of Hippo and the writer of Confessions?

St. Augustine was founded by the Spanish in honor of Saint Augustine. So not sure if there is a distinction. I say St. Au-Gu-Steen.

I was raised Protestant. My parish priest says Au-Gu-Stin but an episcopal church in our city goes by the name Au-Gu-Stin. So who knows?

KevJohn · #15 Jul 18, '11, 11:49 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fizendell

a-GUS-tin

is how I've heard it lately too. Course I always thought it was AUG-us-teen.... so I'm glad to know the correct pronunciation before I embarrass myself in conversation!

It's like Celtic... if you're referring to a basketball team in Boston, it's the SELL-tics... if you're referring to anything Irish, it's KEL-tic!

and if you are referring to the Famous Glasgow Celtic - first ever Scots-Irish, first ever non-Latin, Football Champions of Europe - then its 'sel-tic', (or 'sellic' if you are from Glasgow!)