How to pronounce Buddhist words

carolann

Hi I know different schools have different languages but is there anyone who can do bit of a basic ....how to say ....some of the more commonly used words ? Is this a silly question lol x

Jeffrey

What words?

carolann

Just if there's any such thing as everyday words lol .....dhamma , sanga etc ....vague question I know ...I just wanted a simple version x

Sile

You can certainly ask here, about any words you're after in particular, and I think probably get answer to just about all of them!

But one trick I use is to Google (for example) "dhamma" and "pronounced."

These days, that often brings up a Forvo (online pronunciation database) link where you can hear audio samples of words. Dharma, for example, currently has three audio samples (three different people, who've each recorded themselves saying dharma), and dhamma has one.

Hope that helps! Great question, though - I haven't seen an online pronouncer website specifically devoted to pronunciation of dhamma/dharma terms, and it would be a great thing to develop.

In the meantime, Forvo is set up to allow easy participation - so anyone who wanted to increase the number of dharma/dhamma terms there could do so swiftly:

http://www.forvo.com/

Jeffrey

I bet there are some buddhist dictionaries online.

carolann

I ve found this but I don't know if I ll get my tongue around all the sounds lol x
http://www.visiblemantra.org/pronunciation.html

PrairieGhost

Can anyone solve this one: is it Booo-da or Bu-da?

Jason

carolann said:

Hi I know different schools have different languages but is there anyone who can do bit of a basic ....how to say ....some of the more commonly used words ? Is this a silly question lol x

This might help a little.

Sile

PrairieGhost said:

Can anyone solve this one: is it Booo-da or Bu-da?

Americans (in my experience) tend to say Booo-da, whereas Brits rhyme Buddha with "woulda, shoulda, coulda." (Is that correct, folks?)

Tibetans say it somewhere in between - see this audio link for multiple pronunciations:

http://www.forvo.com/word/buddha/#en

PrairieGhost

Yes, I know, but what about the pali?

RebeccaS

Sile said:

PrairieGhost said:

Can anyone solve this one: is it Booo-da or Bu-da?

Americans (in my experience) tend to say Booo-da, whereas Brits rhyme Buddha with "woulda, shoulda, coulda." (Is that correct, folks?)

Tibetans say it somewhere in between - see this audio link for multiple pronunciations:

http://www.forvo.com/word/buddha/#en

Yep. I (a Brit) say Buh-dah and cdn husband says Boo-dah

federica

PrairieGhost said:

Yes, I know, but what about the pali?

@carolann, @PrairieGhost,

This website has a specific section devoted to learning Pali terms....

PrairieGhost

Ooh thanks federica.