MovieChat Forums > Little Buddha (1994) Discussion > Pronunciation of the Buddha's Name

Pronunciation of the Buddha's Name

posted 17 years ago by All_Seeing_I
4 replies | jump to latest

Is it SiddarTHA or SiddarTA? I know it's spelt Siddhartha, but I believe that the sound is still "T" like the dh in dharma is still sounded "D" (which is easier for us because "DH" doesn't really mean anything in English). This movie uses the second, more esoteric pronunciation, but I've never heard anyone actually say it this way, even in Buddhist temples! Are most of us jjust misinformed, or is the 'th' pronunciation accepted generally now? Like to know if you do.

Thanks!

[–] used_girl_hedley 17 years ago

i think it can be said either way...just like jainism && toaism are said different ways

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[–] alexoneill1469 17 years ago

Actually when you see Pali or Sanskrit writing with an h after a constanant it is not ment to be use as you would with th, it is to lift the sound of the following vowl, which is a. So the pernounciation therefore is Siddart-ha.
I hope this helps.

[–] reenozaur 17 years ago

both "dharma" and "sidhartha" are hindi words, and the "h" is supposed to be heard very clearly.

[–] Alexej 8 years ago

Well, he was not English, so no English th sound. The th is pronounced close to the English pronunciation of Thomas.

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