3 syllables: Nunc Di, mit, tis. Stress on Nunc Di.
nuhngk-dim-IT-is
/ˈnʌŋk dɪˈmɪtɪs/
Nunc Dimittis is pronounced nuhngk-dim-IT-is (/ˈnʌŋk dɪˈmɪtɪs/). It has three syllables (Nunc Di-mit-tis), with the stress on "Nunc Di". Nunc Dimittis is the Latin canticle commonly translated as the Song of Simeon, used in Christian liturgy. As a noun phrase, it denotes the short biblical canticle spoken by Simeon in Luke 2:29-32, often sung or recited in services. It appears in English liturgy and some classical music contexts, retaining its Latin form when not translated.
nounNunc Dimittis is the Latin canticle commonly translated as the Song of Simeon, used in Christian liturgy. As a noun phrase, it denotes the short biblical canticle spoken by Simeon in Luke 2:29-32, often sung or recited in services. It appears in English liturgy and some classical music contexts, retaining its Latin form when not translated.
- Common phonetic challenges: (1) First word 'Nunc' yields an /ŋk/ cluster; many say 'nunk' or 'nun' or drop the /k/; fix by ensuring the back of the tongue contacts the velum, producing /ŋk/ clearly. (2) The second word /dɪˈmɪtɪs/ has 't' practice; speakers often overly aspirate or pronounced 'ti' as 'tee' which shifts the rhythm. (3) Stress pattern: keep primary stress on Di- and ensure the 'mittis' two syllables stay evenly timed. - Corrections: practice with minimal pairs: Nunc vs Nonk, Dimittis vs Dimistis; use a metronome for cadence; record and compare with a chorus.
"In the evening prayer, the choir sang the Nunc Dimittis with graceful, measured cadence."
"The organ Prelude featured a solemn setting of the Nunc Dimittis."
"A scholarly edition of the Service includes the Latin title Nunc Dimittis for the canticle."
Pronounce as /ˈnʌŋk dɪˈmɪtɪs/ in US style, or /ˈnɒŋk dɪˈmɪtɪs/ in many UK usages. The first word has a short o-sound in 'nun' like 'nun' but with a velar nasal; the 'c' in Nunc is pronounced softly as a hard k after 'n' (nunk). The second word has di- as deh-; the stress pattern is two-stress: Nunc Dimittis, with primary stress on Dim (di-MIT-tis) and the second syllable slightly reduced. You’ll want to keep the vowels crisp and avoid elongating the i in -mittis. Audio reference: listen to choral Latin settings of the canticle for authentic cadence.
Common errors include: mispronouncing the first word as 'nun-k' rather than 'nunk' with a velar nasal; leaving the 'c' too soft or silent, and misplacing stress on Dimittis (placing it on Dim instead of Di-). Another frequent issue is pronouncing Dimittis with a hard 't' instead of the softer 'ti' as in 'mittis' where the i is short and the t is flapped. Correcting by treating Dimittis as di-mit-tis with even syllables helps. Practice the two words slowly, then speed up.
In US pronunciation you’ll often hear /ˈnʌŋk dɪˈmɪtɪs/, with a pronounced r-less non-rhotic feel in US choir practice; UK tends to /ˈnɒŋk dɪˈmɪtɪs/ or /ˈnʌŋk/ depending on regional accent, with clear vowel quality in 'Dimittis.' Australian tends toward /ˈnɔŋk dɪˈmɪtɪs/ with a broader 'o' and less rhoticity. Across all, the second word maintains di-MIT-tis; the main differences lie in the first vowel and overall vowel quality.
The phrase is difficult due to Latin phonology in a predominantly English-speaking context: the 'nc' in Nunc yields a velar nasal followed by a hard 'k' sound, the 'Dimittis' contains a short 'i' and a cluster '-ttis' where the t is light and quickly followed by 'is.' Listeners often flatten the second word's stress, or inject English vowel length. Practice with IPA and lips and jaw positioning to keep the two syllables distinct and the cadence even.
The answer lies in the Latin 'nc' cluster where 'n' merges with a velar stop; the 'c' is realized as /k/ before back vowels. This yields a distinct 'nunk' sound, not simply 'nun' or 'nukt.' IPA guidance: /ˈnʌŋk/ or /ˈnɒŋk/ depending on accent; ensure your tongue makes contact with the velum to create the /ŋk/ sequence.
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- US: tends to a sharper 'ti' and shorter vowels; UK: more rounded vowels, slightly slower cadence; AU: broader vowels, less retroflex; IPA guides: US /ˈnʌŋk dɪˈmɪtɪs/, UK /ˈnɒŋk dɪˈmɪtɪs/, AU /ˈnɔŋk dɪˈmɪtɪs/. - Vowel detail: Nunc features short /ʌ/ or /ɒ/ depending; Dimittis uses /ɪ/ in second syllable and /ɪ/ in -tis; maintain clarity of /m/ and the final /s/. - Consonant detail: ensure /ŋ/ before /k/, and keep /d/ as a standard alveolar stop.
Nunc Dimittis is Latin for 'now dismiss us' or more idiomatically 'now let depart.' The phrase originates in the Latin Vulgate Gospel of Luke: Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace, as the canticle Simeon recited upon recognizing Jesus. The words derive from classic Latin liturgical formulae: nunc meaning 'now' or 'at this very moment,' and dimittis from the verb dimittere, 'to send away, to dismiss' (from Latin dis- + mittere). The canticle’s title is commonly shortened to Nunc Dimittis in Western Christian liturgy, especially within Anglican and Catholic traditions, to designate that specific canticle within the Compline or Evensong services. Its usage dates to early medieval liturgical practice, solidifying in Latin in medieval hymnals and later appearing in vernacular translations, musical settings, and scholarly editions. Historically, the canticle’s function is doxological, signaling relief and fulfillment at nightfall or in the twilight hour of the day. The first known written reference is in medieval manuscripts where Luke’s canticle is quoted in Latin, aligning with the period’s standardizing of liturgical texts. Over centuries, composers like Victoria, Bateson, and Tavener produced choral settings, transmitting the phrase through music as well as text.
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