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

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

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)?

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Iota sounds more like Yota than EEota. Alpha Omicron Pee sounds funny, so I'm glad we use the anglicized version!

Somehow I missed your post, Mystic Cat! I probably just didn't see that there was a whole second page of posts. Wow...it's amazing how often this subject comes up!!

[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!

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by AZ-AlphaXi

The official pronunciation 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.

Boy, did I ever learn that pronunciation!

The Sigma Alpha Iota chapter at the hometown university hosts an all campus sing competition. While the judges are tallying their votes, the SAIs perform and would end their performance with a very lovely - and quite slow - song about their sisterhood. At the end of the song, they sing "Sigma Alpha Iota" and would always draw out Iota. More or less as in "E-O-TA". At first, I figured it was all the Southern accents. Later I was informed by SAI friends of the correct pronunciation.

[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

[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.

[DSTCHAOS]

I loved the Oscar Meyer rendition, btw!!!

[Wolfman]

In essence, the difference lies in the pronunciation of classical vs. modern (Demotic) Greek. In modern Greek, diphthongs and some vowels are spoken as e-class vowels. (e.g., oi as in oil = long e; eta= long e).

[bruinaphi]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

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

The Alpha Phis on EVERY campus say it that way. That is how our name is pronounced. Just like there are different pronunciations of various people's names, and one is correct while the other is incorrect for that person, Fi is correct for some organizations, but not for Alpha Phi.

[DSTCHAOS]

Eh...I know that all Alpha Phis say it that way and that's how it's pronounced for you all. Plus, I already read this thread.

My point is that before I knew why it's pronounced that way and before I did a poll to see how all Alpha Phis pronounced it, I was saying "Fee" because the Alpha Phis on my campus said it. Following their lead since they would know.