Ogham is an ancient Irish script or alphabet, carved into stone and wood, dating back to at least the 4th century. But how do you actually pronounce these letters?

Whether you're learning for historical interest, spiritual practice, or just curiosity, getting the sounds right can feel tricky at first.

Let’s break it down simply, so you can start speaking Ogham letter names with confidence.

What Is Ogham and Why Does It Matter?

Ogham (pronounced OH-um) is Ireland’s oldest written script. It was mainly used to carve inscriptions onto standing stones, marking names and territories.

Each letter is made up of strokes along a central line, usually the edge of a stone or stick.

The Ogham alphabet, known as the Beith-Luis-Nion (after three letters in the first grouping), has 20 feda (letters), grouped in sets of five, called aicmí.

Though it fell out of common use probably after the 6th century, it migrated to the academic realms and manuscripts - and remains an important part of Irish heritage and is still used in spiritual and cultural practices today.

Breaking Down Ogham Pronunciation

Note that the spellings of Ogham letters have changed significantly with the evolvement of the Irish language, so you may see different spellings used in different contexts.

Likewise, Ogham pronunciation can be different from Old to modern Irish, and this can be confusing.

Here's a simple guide to saying each letter correctly with a modern Irish slant (as this is the current form of our living language, it is respectful to choose this where possible).

First Group (Beith-Luis-Nion)

• Beith (B) – Beh 
• Luis (L) – Lish (older, Luss)
• Fearn (F) – Fairn
• Sail (S) – Sahl
• Nion (N) – Nyonn

Second Group (Huath-Dair)

• Huathe (H) – Hoo-ah
• Dair (D) – Dahr or Tharh (varies by dialect)
• Tinne (T) – Tinn-eh
• Coll (C) – Kull
• Ceirt (Q) – Kyert

Third Group (Muin-Gort)

• Muin (M) – Mwin
• Gort (G) – Gurth
• Ngetal (NG) – nYay-thall
• Straif (ST) – Straff
• Ruis (R) – Rish

Fourth Group (Ailm-Onn)

• Ailm (A) – Ah-lm
• Onn (O) – Ow-n
• Úr (U) – Oor
• Eadadh (E) – Eh-dah
• Iodadh (I) – Ih-dah

Tips for Learning Ogham Pronunciation

• Listen to native Irish speakers – Ogham pronunciation is rooted in Irish, so listening to fluent speakers helps.
• Say the letters out loud – Repeating the sounds helps them stick.
• Break down your learning – Focus on one letter at a time, maybe one aicme a week.
• Record yourself – This makes it easier to hear what needs adjusting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using an English accent – Ogham sounds don’t match English letters exactly.
• Ignoring pronunciation variations – Some letters have different sounds in different Irish dialects.
• Forgetting silent letters – Some Ogham words may contain silent sounds, just like modern Irish.
• Being too hard on yourself - Or on others, give some grace to learners!

 Mastering Ogham pronunciation doesn’t have to be hard. With a bit of practice, you’ll start recognising the sounds and appreciating the rhythm of this ancient script.

Take your time, listen to native pronunciation, and most importantly - enjoy the learning process!

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