"Matthew" pronunciation

Question

Why is it "MATH-yoo", rather than "MATT-hyoo", if it's spelled with double T? In other languages (Fr: Mathieu, Sp: Mateo/Matías) there's a definite /t/ sound in there, so did it once have a /t/ in English? If so, what's with the "tth" combination, then (which also appears in the German version, Matthias)?

Ross Howard

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Why is it "MATH-yoo", rather than "MATT-hyoo", if it's spelled with double T? In other languages (Fr: Mathieu, Sp: Mateo/Matías) ... a /t/ in English? If so, what's with the "tth" combination, then (which also appears in the German version, Matthias)?[/nq]
The name was originally spelled
MU-ALPHA-TAU-THETA-ALPHA-OMICRON-SIGMA, when THETA was pronounced as a T-sound followed by an H-sound (thus the Latin transliteration as TH). Pronouncing, in sequence, a T, an H, a T, and another H is rather impossible.
Later, when THETA was softened to the TH-sound familiar to us today, it became pronounced with a single THETA-sound, and spelled with a double-THETA. The transliteration was frozen at the earlier form, but pronounced with the later form.
The German is pronounced as spelled, with a T-sound followed by an H-sound.

Stefano ("Mr Know-it-All") MacGregor

Usenet · Answer

}
}> Why is it "MATH-yoo", rather than "MATT-hyoo", if it's spelled with }> double T? In other languages (Fr: Mathieu, Sp: Mateo/Matías) there's a }> definite /t/ sound in there, so did it once have a /t/ in English? If }> so, what's with the "tth" combination, then (which also appears in the }> German version, Matthias)?
}
} The name was originally spelled
} MU-ALPHA-TAU-THETA-ALPHA-OMICRON-SIGMA, when THETA was pronounced as a } T-sound followed by an H-sound (thus the Latin transliteration as TH). } Pronouncing, in sequence, a T, an H, a T, and another H is rather } impossible.
}
} Later, when THETA was softened to the TH-sound familiar to us today, } it became pronounced with a single THETA-sound, and spelled with a } double-THETA. The transliteration was frozen at the earlier form, but } pronounced with the later form.
}
} The German is pronounced as spelled, with a T-sound followed by an } H-sound.
I don't know from German, but my trusty old Greek New Testament (Aland, Black, Martini, Metzger, and Wikgreen, Third Edition (Corrected)) (which you can take as gospel) has the first book tagged "KATA MA@@AION" (where the "@" is substituted here for each theta). That doesn't necessarily conflict much (i.e., except in a Skitt sense) from the above, but there it is.

R. J. Valentine

"Matthew" pronunciation

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