When a gardener wants to sound educated here they don't say "fig tree" - they use the latin "ficus" - the genus' name. It's always pronounced "fie-cuss", but I suspect this is wrong. Shouldn't it be "fi-cooss" ("fi" as in "fit", "oo" as u in "put")?

stales

If it is a real Latin word (and it is), the "i" takes on an "ee" sound, so the pronunciation would be "fee-cuss". That won't stop most people using "fy-cuss".

I'm having a bit of fun with the local wildlife here in Pomland. One town I go past quite often is called Rowley Regis, which is always pronounced "Rej-uss". I insist on pronouncing it "Rey-geese" and everyone has to stop and think about where the hell I'm talking about! When they complain I simply point out that if they want to use Latin words in their placenames they should learn to pronounce them properly. After the standard apoplexy subsides, I then continue to refer to it as "Rowley of the kings". That is even worse!

"Rowley of the kings". Dear CK: Your Latin command is superior to mine, so I timidly inguire: Isn't "regis" singular?

If it is a real Latin word (and it is), the "i" takes on an "ee" sound, so the pronunciation would be
"fee-cuss". That won't stop most people using "fy-cuss".
My problem is about the prononciation of the "cus" part. I know that you read it as "cuss", but in Italian it is pronounced as your "coos" ( and I suppose that it more likely close to the Latin prononciation). So the question becomes: do you want to read ficus thinking of it as an English word or as a Latin one?

Re:Regis, which is always pronounced "Rej-uss".

there is a morning show, Regis and (lady of the hour) for a long time it was Regis and Kathy Lee-- but the new lady has made a name for her self yet..

Regis Philbin, the star, was Joey Bishop's side kick.. when joey bishop was the host of the late show.

Regis name is Ree gis. (or may be its Rej-uss but it's sure not rey-geese!)
Regis HS is the same, as are all the other regis's i know. i am pretty certain, that is how it is said in church latin (ie RC church)

i have always been told, church latin, is not the same as Latin. (American english is not the same as UK english) neither one is right or wrong, its one of those you say to may toe , i say ta mah toe, things

The church Latin would be either Rey-jees in Italianate or Rey-geese in German. In classical Latin it would be Rey-gis; the i is short and would be like the i in it.

The Rey would not be a diphthong in any version of Latin, but would be sliding up towards a Ree sound in the German Church Latin.

Tying two threads together:

Which came first, the chicken regis or the egg regis?

In the UK I have always heard it pronounced as Reejiss, with equal emphasis on both syllables. No more correct, but different as always!

When I was small, the seaside resort we usually went to was Bognor Regis, and it was definitely Reejis.

Bingley

We've had a number of posts about the pronunciation of Latin, including the Classical vs. Late (Church) Latin pronunciations.

But there is a third pronunciation used in English-speaking countries, which is to pronounce Latin using the same rules as you would use for English. This is nearly always used for the Latin names of flora and fauna. Hence ficus becomes 'fie-cuss' and regis becomes 'ree-jus'. In like manner, Ursa Major is pronounced 'er-sa may-jer', not 'oorsa my-yore'; Vivat Regina! is 'vie-vat re-jie-na', etc.

I have heard that this was the way Latin was pronounced at Oxford and Cambridge for a couple centuries, but don't know if that is true or if it's still the mode. Sure hope not.

Apropos of Stales's original post:

"And why is it that most of us never use a word of English origin if we can find a manufactured Greek one? One sees a good example of this in the rapid disappearance of English flower names. What until twenty years ago was universally called a snapdragon is now called an antirrhinum, a word no one can spell without consulting a dictionary. Forget-me-nots are coming more and more to be called myosotis. Many other names, Red Hot Poker, Mind Your Own Business, Love Lies Bleeding, London Pride, are disappearing in favour of colourless Greek names out of botany textbooks. I had better not continue too long on this subject, because last time I mentioned flowers in this column an indignant lady wrote in to say that flowers are bourgeois. But I don't think it a good augury for the future of the English language that 'marigold' should be dropped in favour of 'calendula', while the pleasant little Cheddar Pink loses its name and becomes merely Dianthus Caesius."

George Orwell, As I please [column in the newspaper Tribune], 21 April 1944

But there is a third pronunciation used in English-speaking countries, which is to pronounce Latin using the same rules as you would use for English.

Maybe it's a matter of personal taste, but it's never bothered me to hear regis or Ursa Major given the English pronunciation. My Latin is pretty shaky, but if we remained purists, wouldn't we have to say Kaiser for Caesar?