Why is phi pronounced 'phee' but pi is pronounced 'pie'?

[gnome]

"phy" or "phee"?

My physics prof. pronounces φ as "phee" (rhymes with we).

We call Π "pie", not "pee".
We call Χ "ky", not "kee" (I think).

So what's up with phee?

 

[Monique]

it is Phi :)

i as in pie

 

[Monique]

ACTUALLY I thought about it for a second, in Europe it would be ee! So I guess it should be pronounced that way, not the American way

 

[Monique]

In Dutch I say pee, sampee, phee, chee, psee (pronounced that the american way)

pronounciation is kinda confusing across languages, I for instance have a very hard time writing down a spelled (dictated) word, because the sounds are the same, but the letters are different:

En=Du
a = e
e = i
i = y
o = o
u = oe

I guess either your professor is European or he likes to pronounce greek words the greek way :P

 

[Njorl]

In my experience, for what it's worth"

pi, chi, psi all rhyme with "I".

I have heard phi both ways.

xi only rhymed with "we".

Of course, I could only have heard from people mispronouncing them. Anyone fluent in Greek?

Njorl

 

[chroot]

I believe he letter can be pronounced "phy" when used alone, but must be pronounced "phee" when it follows a vowel, like alpha. In almost all uses, "phee" is preferred.

Some other letters that people often mispronounce are xi (pronounced "ksi"), psi (pronounced as in lips).

- Warren

 

[Njorl]

phi phi pho phum

 

[Monique]

could you pass me some, Njorl

 

[selfAdjoint]

In greek it's phee. If you study greek you have to get out of the habit of saying fie, pie, and so on.