sorry if this seems off topic

[AlphaXiDiva]

but i got a question to ask of greeks out there...I asked this on the AZD forum, but I have yet to get a response...it's simple,:
what are the rules of pronunciation of greek letters? My local org is called alpha xi omicron (we're the alpha xi's) and we pronounce it "alpha zye" (as it's been since 1927), we knew that alpha phi's for instance are "phees", but we recently heard that alpha xi delta's are "a zee d's". Sorry to sound like such an ignorant novice, but do any of you know the rules of pronunciation?
sorry I used this forum, it was the seemingly closest relatively to my question...

much love

[texas*princess]

i don't have a definate answer to your question (sorry!) but I think it might have to do with "vowel" letters..

for example, i heard somewhere that the Phi in Alpha Phi is not pronounced "fye" but instead "fee" because it follows a word that begins with a vowel (please correct me if i am wrong!)

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Here's what I've always been told. Alpha Xi Delta and Alpha Phi are pronounced "zee" and "fee" because the letter follows a letter that is a vowel. On the other hand Theta Xi, Gamma Phi Beta, and Pi Beta Phi are pronounced "zye" and "fye" because the letter follows a letter that is a consonant.

[Opie25]

While an undergraduate member I had several chapter brothers that were from Greece. Poulos always used to complain because everyone pronounced Greek letters incorrectly. I can't remember how XI was pronoounced off the top of my head, but I know that Phi was actually pronounced FEE not because it was after a vowel, but because that is the actual Greek annunciation of that letter (so he said).

I don't know this for 100% fact because I am by no means a Greek (as in Greece) scholar, and he was a big BS'er....but that's what he always used to say.

I think that XI is actually ZYE.....

Thanks for listening.

[SoProud2BeAnAlphaXi]

I'd always heard the post-vowel thing, too, but it looks like that's wrong. According to a couple of greek pronunciation websites (see, for instance, http://www.smartphrase.com/Greek/gr_pronunciation.shtml), it's supposed to be zee and fee all the time, because of the way iota gets pronounced. But given all the discussion that's out there on the topic (just do a search for "greek pronunciation" and you get deluged, and do check out http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/%7Ecwcon...s/CompPhon.pdf for just a little idea of the complexities -- yawn!), I'm thinking this isn't something you can just resolve in a quick little answer on Greekchat.

[TKESweetheart]

I was told by Alpha Xi Delta alum that it depended on whether the letter was at the beginning, the middle or the end of the word. For example, Alpha Zee Delta but Zeye Chi.I don't know about Phi. It could be a vowel thing,too. I have no idea what greek letters are considered vowels. What about that "sometimes y" rule. It may be goofy like that

[MarySunshine]

i think alot of the way you pronounce things can depend on where you are from...lots of sisters from the south say tow instead of tau (like saw) and it also depends on the the org...i know that to any other greek Iota is pronounces eye-ota but in sigma alpha iota its e-ota (at least thats how we say it here in clarion)


Sandy
Daughters of a great and singing nation let your voices rise in dedication. Music tells unspoken noble creeds. Music beautifies the simplist deeds. Sing we now to Sigma Alpha Iota.

[sugar and spice]

I think we decided it's pretty much random.

[Tom Earp]

We are Greek Named Organizations in name only, We are not Greek Nationals.

What it equates to is rhymns with eye and fi no matter what some Greek National says about what it comes after.

Was on previous thread, but what the hell, if you are like me, you can never find the thread when way back when. Well unless you have to much time on your hands!

[AlphaXiDiva]

Thanks all of you so much...Earp I rarely understand what you have to say, I guess I am not cool enough, but thanks to you too for takin the time! I'll be checkin out a few sites and in the mean time, I'm still an alpha "zye" since "Who's got sparkle in her eye? Wearing coral butterflies, Struts her stuff cause she's not shy, that's cause she's and ALPHA XI!!!"
-ariane

[Tom Earp]

Damn and this is one that I even understood upon rereading it

Xi rhymns with eye
Phi rhymns with Hi


I am not a greek national, Just a Common Greek Social Member


I have been to Greek Eateries and drink Ouso and throw plates and yell oompa!!!!!!!!

[greeklawgirl]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
I am not a greek national, Just a Common Greek Social Member


I have been to Greek Eateries and drink Ouso and throw plates and yell oompa!!!!!!!!

LOL, Tom, I am a common Greek Social Member and a Greek national, so I'll let you in on a little secret:

"Opa" is for ouzo

"Oompa" is for Oktoberfest

Love ya!

(PS: And the proper Greek pronunciation of Xi is "Ksee.")

[Noa]

I have a friend who was a founding member of an organization that used the letter Xi in it but pronounced it ZYE. I wish I could recall the name of her sorority! The first time I heard her pronounce it ZYE I corrected her (having always known XI pronounced as ZEE). She was upset that I insisted it was ZEE but I figured if they pronounced it ZYE I could not change it.

By the way, is your organization local?

[AngelPhiSig]

Okay, from what a sister from another school told me:

Xi is pronounced Zy by males
Xi is pronounced Zee by females

But, Ive never heard this.

In my mind, it all depends on the organization and location of the chapter.

My chapter says Zy, but out Xi chapter at Temple says Zee, and so do most chapters in Eastern PA.

At LTS, we didnt know if our chapter was just dumb... so we waited until the Grand Archon (At the time, Josette George from the Beta Xi chapter) said her chapter designation, and she said....

Zy.

Woo!

[KappaTarzan]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Was on previous thread, but what the hell, if you are like me, you can never find the thread when way back when. Well unless you have to much time on your hands!

maybe i'm one of those people with too much tim eon their hands.. heh i don't know if this is the exact thread you are talking about, but i started it.. here it is:

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...letter+upsilon