Capernaum is a city in Galilee, Israel, mentioned several times in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is believed to be the hometown of Peter, Andrew, James, and John, four of Jesus’ twelve apostles. The word Capernaum is derived from the Hebrew words “kefar” (village) and “nahum” (comfort), meaning “village of comfort.”
The pronunciation of Capernaum can be challenging for non-native English speakers. The emphasis is on the second syllable, and the “a” in the first syllable is pronounced like the “a” in “cat.” The “e” in the second syllable is pronounced like the “e” in “bed,” and the “u” in the third syllable is pronounced like the “oo” in “boot.” Therefore, the correct pronunciation of Capernaum is “kuh-PUR-nuhm.”
