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  #1  
Old 02-24-2001, 12:00 AM
newbie newbie is offline
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Cool Confused about pronunciation!

Hi all,

I'm just in High school but am very interested in the aspect of being in a sorority Can anyone help me out w/pronunciation of letters, at least these?

Like when Phi is pronunced "fee" or "fie"
how "xi" is pronounced
how "chi" is pronounced

If there is a website which has various pronouncations, can you list it? THANKS! If there are any "exceptions" to the rules, please post them! THANKS!
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  #2  
Old 02-24-2001, 02:15 AM
Billy Optimist Billy Optimist is offline
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In the Greek language Phi is always pronounced fee. In most fraternities and sorities, it is fie. Aplpha Phi is the only group I know of that prnounces it fee. Good luck with High School.
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  #3  
Old 02-24-2001, 03:07 AM
ZChi4Life ZChi4Life is offline
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When I learned the greekbet, we pronounced "Xi" as "zie".

How does everyone pronounce "Mu"? Is it supposed to be "mew" or "moo"? My sisters and I say "moo". What about Upsilon and Tau?
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  #4  
Old 02-24-2001, 10:30 AM
carnation carnation is offline
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Every group I know of, including honoraries, has used Mu=Mew, Tau=Taw, and Upsilon=Oopsilon! How Xi is pronounced depends on the group; some say Zee and some say Zye.
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  #5  
Old 02-24-2001, 11:13 AM
LyonAZD LyonAZD is offline
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Alpha Xi's pronounce Xi as "zee" though it can be pronounced "zi". I think it depends on vowel placement.
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  #6  
Old 02-24-2001, 05:01 PM
33girl 33girl is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by DeltAlum:
Regarding Xi. I think the rule is the same as Phi. It's Zee when following a vowell. Otherwise it's Zye.

Best of luck for the rest of high school.

DeltAlum

PS to the other posters, Tau is Taw, and we always pronounced MU Mew.
Xi is the same rule as phi and following a vowel.

Alpha Xi Delta - Alpha ZEE Delta
Theta Xi - Theta ZYE

I think that "mew" is the desired pronunciation of mu, since "moo" can have, shall we say, not the best connotations.

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  #7  
Old 02-24-2001, 08:30 PM
Dewgirl Dewgirl is offline
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I agree with all the others, but on my campus the Tau Kappa Epsilon's pronounce it T-ao, as in, the philosophy
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  #8  
Old 02-24-2001, 11:44 PM
newbie newbie is offline
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Cool

Thanks everyone for taking the time to answer my question!!!

so Phi Mu is pronunced "fie" like "Figh" and Mew, so "Figh Mew"? And Chi is just a hard "Kigh"?

Thank you also, BillyOptimist, and DeltAlum, for your good luck wishes to me and have a fabulous weekend everyone!!
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  #9  
Old 02-25-2001, 01:31 AM
MIDWESTDIVA MIDWESTDIVA is offline
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Not trying to be a smart azz, but most larger dictionaries will have the phonetic spelling of greek letters.

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"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth." ~Mohammed Ali
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  #10  
Old 02-25-2001, 01:42 AM
DeltAlum DeltAlum is offline
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Regarding Xi. I think the rule is the same as Phi. It's Zee when following a vowell. Otherwise it's Zye.

Best of luck for the rest of high school.

DeltAlum

PS to the other posters, Tau is Taw, and we always pronounced MU Mew.
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  #11  
Old 02-25-2001, 03:05 PM
Rain Man Rain Man is offline
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Newbie,

Your question was discussed some time ago on a thread called "Greek Alphabet". I brought it to the top if you wish to peruse this in any more detail.

RM
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  #12  
Old 02-25-2001, 03:23 PM
CutiePie2000 CutiePie2000 is offline
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Cool

Quote:
Originally posted by Rain Man:
Newbie,
Your question was discussed some time ago on a thread called "Greek Alphabet". I brought it to the top if you wish to peruse this in any more detail.
RM
Yes, the thread is here: http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/...ML/000682.html

Happy Reading!
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  #13  
Old 02-25-2001, 05:17 PM
gibbonsgal gibbonsgal is offline
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tau as in saw not taw as in cow that's how i've learned it
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  #14  
Old 02-25-2001, 05:17 PM
Tom Earp Tom Earp is offline
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Well, the same thing goes for Cogito as kogeto! I after E except on what ever! It is Greek and is pronounced the same NO matter what is comes after, it is not English American, or French! Look and read your Greek Alphabet!


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Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)
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  #15  
Old 02-25-2001, 06:49 PM
tcsparky tcsparky is offline
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Smile

The high school fraternity Sigma Phi Omega pronounces it "fie" also.
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