Quote:
Originally Posted by SWTXBelle
There's the whole "Alpha Xi Delta" vs. "Theta Xi" - I'm good with both, but can't remember which is "American Greek" and which is "Greek Greek". I know, I know - I have to admit I didn't study my Greek as much as I should have. I cheat and have my husband the Greek teacher help me out!  |
Xi is the Greek equivalent of the English
X, and the "Greek Greek" pronunciation is "Ksee," with both the
k and the
s sounds being pronounced.
English speakers are not used to beginning words with a "ks" sound, so we have anglicized all words borrowed from Greek that begin with
X, including Xi (and xylophone and Xerxes), by replacing the "ks" sound with a "z" sound.
So,
Ksee is Greek Greek
Zee is Anglicized Greek
Zi is Americanized Greek