Why is it pronounced "Zed"??
03-24-2004, 09:24 PM
#1
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Why is it pronounced "Zed"??
As I was watching Top Gear video.. I noticed the British guy kept saying.. 350 Zed... is that how the Brit's pronounce Z?
...w, x, y, Zed?
...w, x, y, Zed?
03-25-2004, 01:42 AM
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yup, they really do say that. Weird, huh? Even my Philippina wife says it. When I told her it's pronounced Zee, she busted out laughing, certain I am nuts (i might be, but not for that reason.)
03-25-2004, 02:12 AM
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I don't think there is any explanation needed.
However, here is one. As most european languages, English has been influenced by other neighbouring languages throughout the ages. Ancient Greek left the letter Z in the alphabet of almost all of them. And Z is ZETA in Greek (Zèt in French for example).
God knows why it became Zee when you crossed the Big Pond...
However, here is one. As most european languages, English has been influenced by other neighbouring languages throughout the ages. Ancient Greek left the letter Z in the alphabet of almost all of them. And Z is ZETA in Greek (Zèt in French for example).
God knows why it became Zee when you crossed the Big Pond...
.. and maybe just maybe there's a reason why Americans are disliked the world over?
03-25-2004, 09:11 PM
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It was we radical Americans who changed the pronunciation from the British Zed to the American Zee. It had something to do with wanting to be different right after that nasty business about breaking away from England and wanting to be an independent nation.
According to the Concise Oxford Companion, "The modification of zed ... to zee appears to have been by analogy with bee, dee, vee, etc."
And besides, now the Alphabet Song rhymes at the end.
mm
According to the Concise Oxford Companion, "The modification of zed ... to zee appears to have been by analogy with bee, dee, vee, etc."
And besides, now the Alphabet Song rhymes at the end.
mm
03-26-2004, 08:10 AM
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Originally posted by IKnowNot'ing
And can you imagine saying : Zed Zed Top?
And can you imagine saying : Zed Zed Top?
Zizi in french = dick
03-26-2004, 12:23 PM
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Originally posted by hotpot
And why is W pronounced doubleyoo?
And why is W pronounced doubleyoo?
Hence "Double - U" = W
Other languages have a similar pronunciation..
03-26-2004, 12:25 PM
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Originally posted by brothervoodoo
hehehe language is funny that way.... If you line-up two of the letter "U's" it looks like a "W".
Hence "Double - U" = W
Other languages also have the same thing...
hehehe language is funny that way.... If you line-up two of the letter "U's" it looks like a "W".
Hence "Double - U" = W
Other languages also have the same thing...
03-27-2004, 09:45 AM
#20
Originally posted by hotpot
Chinese is so much simpler. Each word is represented by a character.
Chinese is so much simpler. Each word is represented by a character.
In Greek, the equivalent letter for "Z" is zeta, pronounced zee-ta
The English distortion zay-ta only complicates the issue of understanding the Greek origins of English.
For that matter, beta is properly pronounced vee-ta and delta is thel-ta.
You don't want me to explain gamma. Its obscene, anyway.:p
03-27-2004, 11:38 AM
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Originally posted by MazdaManiac
In Greek, the equivalent letter for "Z" is zeta, pronounced zee-ta
In Greek, the equivalent letter for "Z" is zeta, pronounced zee-ta
In this same thread maybe?
03-27-2004, 12:32 PM
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Well.....At least we (American's) pronounce aluminum correctly.
al-oo-min-um
NOT
al-oo-mi-ni-um
First time I saw TopGear, and they were describing the Lotus Elise, I thought they made up some new type of X-men metal for the car. Then I realized it was just aluminum.... :P
And at least we spell thing correctly.
theater vs. theatre
It's pronounced thee-ah-terr.
Not thee-ah-tray or thee-ah-truh
al-oo-min-um
NOT
al-oo-mi-ni-um
First time I saw TopGear, and they were describing the Lotus Elise, I thought they made up some new type of X-men metal for the car. Then I realized it was just aluminum.... :P
And at least we spell thing correctly.
theater vs. theatre
It's pronounced thee-ah-terr.
Not thee-ah-tray or thee-ah-truh
03-28-2004, 08:14 AM
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Originally posted by threeputtwash
Well.....At least we (American's) pronounce aluminum correctly.
al-oo-min-um
NOT
al-oo-mi-ni-um
First time I saw TopGear, and they were describing the Lotus Elise, I thought they made up some new type of X-men metal for the car. Then I realized it was just aluminum.... :P
And at least we spell thing correctly.
theater vs. theatre
It's pronounced thee-ah-terr.
Not thee-ah-tray or thee-ah-truh
Well.....At least we (American's) pronounce aluminum correctly.
al-oo-min-um
NOT
al-oo-mi-ni-um
First time I saw TopGear, and they were describing the Lotus Elise, I thought they made up some new type of X-men metal for the car. Then I realized it was just aluminum.... :P
And at least we spell thing correctly.
theater vs. theatre
It's pronounced thee-ah-terr.
Not thee-ah-tray or thee-ah-truh
The Brits spell it aluminium and pronounce it alumi-nium. The Americans aren't spelling it right. Otherwise you'd have calcum, sodum, potassum, uranum etc.
The English invented the English language. So, you cannot claim that the American pronounciation is the correct one, except for words that you invented.
