Why is the phi in alpha phi pronounced fee and not fye

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

See, I knew about I(ee)ota . . .

Well, of course you did, my dear SAI. Although in Greek, the Iota and the Omega form a "rising diphthong" (two vowel sounds pronounced together with the emphasis on the second vowel sound), so that the Iota becomes a gliding semivowel and the word is pronounced "YOTA."

Now, if that wasn't enough Greek letter trivia of the day:

Did you know that Omega and Omicron simply mean "Big O" or "Great O" (O mega) and "Little O" (O mikron)?