We rarely pronounce the sacred name and some even say it is unpronounceable.
However the Talmud says that the ineffable name was pronounced every year
at Yom Kippur so we can prove that it can be pronounced. Yod sounds like
our letter "Y" which basically needs a vowel to be heard. Hey sounds like
our letter "H" and also needs a vowel to be heard. Vav sounds like the
letter "V" and can be heard without a vowel but not very well. Our sages
tell us that saying these letters without vowels is like breathing. Simply
put, His name is air as it passes through the mouth. You utter His Holy
Name every time you breathe.
Often we even replace the sacred name with two yods `` in text outside
the Bible. Even when we see the Name in the Bible, we pronounce it Adonai
(The L-rd) or HaShem (The Name). This is to show respect to the Almighty.
Names are important. I seldom even speak my dad's name. The only time
I use it is to introduce him to someone. They then often call him by his
name, especially when we are in a crowd. It would be inappropriate for
me to call him by his name. It shows respect to be this way. How much more
should we show respect to G-d.