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

Originally Posted by amanda6035

ummm....we pronounce the Xi as "zee" not "zye."

Yes, we say AZD, because Xi is pronounced Zee. AZD is the pronounced the same was a AXiD (Ay Zee Dee) but we are not Alpha 'Zeta' Delta so when we write it out we write wither AXD or AXiD. (or better yet, use the actual greek letters).


ETA: Wanted to share my FAVORITE Alpha Xi song....It'll clear some of this up (haha)

*To the tune of the Oscar Mayer song...*

My sorority has a first name.....It's A-L-P-H-A
My sorority has a last name.....It's D-E-L-T-A
The middle name is hard, you see
It's spelled X-I, pronounced ZEEEEEEE
*fast* A-L-P-H-A-X-I, D-E-L-T-A, goodbye!

I understood the whole AXD not AZD thing. I was just giving background info as to my school. I actually meet AXD's at another school and they pronounced it Zye as well. In bot cases they say A Zee D for short but Alpha Zye Delta in the long form. Just found it interesting that your chapter pronounces it different.

What is the official pronounciation and shouldn't all chapters pronounce it the same?

[riczxd]

Originally Posted by amanda6035

this is what I've always heard too. Same with the letter Xi. Alpha *Zee* Delta, but for example, two chapters near here are Delta Xi and Zeta Xi and the Xi is pronouced *zye* for both of those.

I'd be interested to know how the girls in the local Zeta Xi Delta pronounce their Xi...

Hi! We pronounce our Xi like zi.. rhyming with hi

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by AOE2AlphaPhi

Actually, I was told that it was the proper pronunciation of Phi following a vowel, but I've heard something else too. I think there's another thread about it on here somewhere.

This is what I was told during college.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by AOE2AlphaPhi

Actually, I was told that it was the proper pronunciation of Phi following a vowel, but I've heard something else too. I think there's another thread about it on here somewhere.

It really has nothing to do with that. Honeychile sums it up best.

Originally Posted by honeychile

The Alpha Phis use the Greek Phi, not the English one.

[LoggerTheta]

I know this sounds really weird, but in geology, we use a lot of greek letters (as in all sciences) well... the greek letter phi is used as a measure of grain size (like medium sand is a 2 phi grain and a fine sand is a 4 phi... it has to do with the diameter of the grain, but I digress) anyway, we pronounce it "fee" in geology. Though I think it's because saying "fye size" doesn't roll off the tongue as well as "fee size"

[Hopeful_Bubbles]

Originally Posted by LoggerTheta

I know this sounds really weird, but in geology, we use a lot of greek letters (as in all sciences) well... the greek letter phi is used as a measure of grain size (like medium sand is a 2 phi grain and a fine sand is a 4 phi... it has to do with the diameter of the grain, but I digress) anyway, we pronounce it "fee" in geology. Though I think it's because saying "fye size" doesn't roll off the tongue as well as "fee size"

/hijack
Yay, another female geologist!
/end hijack

[RaggedyAnn]

It can vary by campus as well.

[rufio]

didn't we have a big discussion about this before. Taw vs Tau, Fye vs Fee, OoPsilon vs Yoopsilon.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by rufio

didn't we have a big discussion about this before. Taw vs Tau, Fye vs Fee, OoPsilon vs Yoopsilon.

Many times we've had this discussion. I fear we will have it many more times.

[AZ-AlphaXi]

The official pronuncation of Alpha Xi Delta is Alpha KSEE Delta .. but usually said Alpha ZEE Delta and as far as I know every chapter of Alpha Xi Delta says ZEE ... some do say Zye for their chapter name - as in Zeta Zye for the chapter at Auburn but it was Zee chapter at the University of Kentucky.

[Redraidergirl]

but when my A-Phi friends say it
they say A FEE [short form]
but Alpha FYE [long form]
is that just me... or did i miss something?

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Redraidergirl

but when my A-Phi friends say it
they say A FEE [short form]
but Alpha FYE [long form]
is that just me... or did i miss something?

No...it's always Alpha Phi (Fee)! If they told you different, they're just pulling your leg!

[bruinaphi]

Alpha Phi is pronounced Alpha "Fee" not Alpha "Fi" because "fee" is the classical and ancient Greek pronunciation of the letter Phi and our founders advisor, Professor Coddington, advised them to pronounce it Fee.

Originally Posted by bruinaphi

Alpha Phi is pronounced Alpha "Fee" not Alpha "Fi" because "fee" is the classical and ancient Greek pronunciation of the letter Phi and our founders advisor, Professor Coddington, advised them to pronounce it Fee.

He was a really neat guy.

[DSTCHAOS]

After reading this thread and having a head explosion, I've decided that I'll stick with English pronunciations unless otherwise stated.

I always say Alpha "Fye" Alpha but always say Alpha "Fee," anyway, because the Alpha Phis on my campus said it that way.