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

Originally Posted by amanda6035

this is what I've always heard too. Same with the letter Xi. Alpha *Zee* Delta, but for example,

Are you saying when you say Alpha Xi Delta you pronounce Zee not Xi? Just asking becasue at my school they say Alpha Xi Delta but when saying the letters they say it as AZD but write AXD. Always had wondered why they said Zee instead of Xi. Same with Alpha Phi.