really random
 

This is probably the dumbest, most random question on the entire site, but i have always wondered! How do you pronounce the Greek letter Xi? Is it pronounced the same way as Chi?

Delta Delta Delta Phi Beta Chapter "Let us steadfastly love one another"

Xi can be pronunced two ways ....
zee as in Alpha Xi Delta
or
Zi as in Theta Xi

Yeah - I've only heard it pronounced "zi"

Re: Curious
 

Well, considering many words in the English language are pronounced differently in different areas of the country, I guess we can assume the same can be said for words/letters we are not native speakers of! :rolleyes:

How do you pronounce the X in your org's name? Because technically, in Greek, it's pronounced "key" - with a slight throaty, almost rolling of the 'k' sound. So if you pronounce it 'ch-eye' like my org does, maybe you shouldn't have crossed???

[/b*tchiness]

phi would be a great example..........I think there are some usage rules for that one.

I was told that the REAL Greek pronunciation of phi is fee, which is why Alpha Phi is Alpha FEE. If Gamma Phi was founded on the same campus, then why is Gamma Phi Beta, Gamma FYE Beta?

Re: Curious
 

because most new members aren't forced to learn the greek alphabet or recite it outloud. Most know it anyway, but that confusion is pretty common, especially when "xi" can be pronounced either Zee or Zie

I was a Nanny for a family that was Greek and they explained the PHi thing to me. It is pronounces fee if there is nothing following it. and FYE if there is a letter/word after it.

That's interesting. So does that mean that Pi Beta Phi would really be pronounced Pye Bayta Fee/Pye Fee? What about other letters that rhyme with Phi? Would Sigma Chi really be pronounced Sigma Kee?

Three ways, actually. The two anglicized pronunciations you note and the Greek pronunciation: "ksee."

MysticCat, you beat me to it!!!

I was told that our Founders originally pronounced it as "ksee." One of our older alumnae won't say, "zee" - she always says, "Alpha ksee Delta."

ETA: So, technically, should it be pronounced, "Theta ksee?"

Abundant sense. The idea that F is pronounced "fee" or "fie" depending on whether vowels or whatever follow it is a Greek Urban legend that simply refuses to die. In Greek, F is always pronounced "fee." Always.

And yes, in Greek X, P, C and Y are pronounced "ksee" (pronounce both the "k" and the "s"), "pee," "khee" (think a Scottish or German "ch" sound), and "psee" (pronounce both the "p" and the "s").

Edited to correct spelling.

Interesting AXiD670. It's a classic example of how we have anglicized the names of Greek letters. While English speakers are quite used to having "ks" and "ps" sounds in the middle or at the end of words ("axiom" and "trips"), we are not used to beginning words with such "strange" consonant combinations. So, we dropped the first consonant and ended up with "zee" (like "xylophone") and "see."

Of course, unlike many European languages, we are also used to the letter "I," when standing alone, representing the diphthong "eye" rather than single vowel "ee." So, from "ksee" to "zeye" and from "psee" to "seye."

The truth is, we have anglicized the names of most if not all of the Greek letters. Even "alpha" should really be "ahlpha." So the correct prounciation for any particular GLO is the pronunciation that particular GLO has chosen to use.

I was told that we strayed away from saying "Alpha ksee Delta" because if you say it together too quickly, it sounds like "Al-f*ck-see Delta" -- not exactly what we want to be saying! I've met old alumnae who say it the old way, too.

Re: Curious
 

It's because I didn't cross.

I was initiated. :rolleyes: