Welcome to the TechSpot OpenBoards. Please read the FAQ if you have any questions. Login to participate.

Go Back   TechSpot OpenBoards > TS Community > The Meeting 'spot'

How to pronounce Z?

Closed Thread
Bookmark / Share this page
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 01-27-2004
Per Hansson's Avatar
TS Special Forces
 
Location: Sweden
Member since: Feb 2002, 1,135 posts
System specs
How to pronounce Z?

When talking to The Planet tech support around 6 months ago I got introduced to saying the letter Z to an American...

I have been in Ireland and pronounced it as "Zed" and people understood me, and that was how they pronounced it also...

But Americans pronounce it as "Zee" now where my problem is is how to make the letters C and Z sound different...

In School you get thaught English as secondary language but it's the U.K English, not American...

So how do I pronounce it? Anyone dare to upload a wavefile? ;-)
  #2  
Old 01-27-2004
Didou's Avatar
TS Special Forces
 
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Member since: Feb 2002, 5,821 posts
System specs
Quote:
How to pronounce Z?
Zat is zee question.

It makes you sound like Drakula.
You can remove this banner by registering, join the TS Community for free.
  #3  
Old 01-27-2004
StormBringer's Avatar
TechSpot Guru
 
Location: USA
Member since: Apr 2002, 2,871 posts
easiest way is to use words to associate the sound of the letter. I find myself having to do this when taking on the phone to people all the time.

A-Alpha
B-Beta
C-Charlie
Z-Zebra

You just use a word that is easily associated with that letter.

To try and explain the C and Z sounds, the C(See) would sound a bit like a hissing. The Z(Zee) is more of a zipping sound.
  #4  
Old 01-27-2004
somekid007's Avatar
TechSpot Enthusiast
 
Location: Canada
Member since: Jun 2003, 369 posts
"Zed"
  #5  
Old 01-27-2004
schizoid77's Avatar
TechSpot Member
 
Location: Washington DC
Member since: Mar 2003, 124 posts
Z's buzz....

C's hiss....

Zed's dead baby, Zed's dead.
  #6  
Old 01-27-2004
TS | Thomas's Avatar
TechSpot Elite
 
Location: Ireland
Member since: Feb 2002, 1,327 posts
Zed, but I'm from Ireland My wifes american & she does indeed say "zee". Just stick with Zed
  #7  
Old 01-27-2004
vassil3427's Avatar
TechSpot Booster
 
Member since: Feb 2002, 822 posts
I've never heard of anyone saying Zed instead of Zee....I'm american...So I guess thats all i've ever heard...
You can remove this banner by registering, join the TS Community for free.
  #8  
Old 01-28-2004
Arris's Avatar
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
Member since: Feb 2002, 3,033 posts
xyZee..

Hmm doesn't sound right.

xy Zed
  #9  
Old 01-28-2004
Phantasm66's Avatar
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Member since: Feb 2002, 6,600 posts
ZED
  #10  
Old 01-28-2004
LNCPapa's Avatar
TS Special Forces
 
Location: Duke University, North Carolina, USA
Member since: Feb 2002, 2,159 posts
System specs
I'm an American who lived in the UK for a few years - I think it really depends on current company. When I'm around anyone who has lived in or currently lives in Europe I pronounce it Zed. I work with several Irish folk here so it's Zed for them and Zee for my US associates.
  #11  
Old 01-28-2004
MrGaribaldi's Avatar
TechSpot Ambassador
 
Location: Babylon 5, Grid Epsilon
Member since: Feb 2002, 2,802 posts
Just adding my vote for Zed...

It's not your fault those americans never learned how to pronounce the words properly
  #12  
Old 01-28-2004
vassil3427's Avatar
TechSpot Booster
 
Member since: Feb 2002, 822 posts
Na come on guys, you're all backwards..Its zeeeeeeeeee
  #13  
Old 01-28-2004
Nic's Avatar
Nic Nic is offline
TechSpot Paladin
 
Location: UK
Member since: Jan 2003, 1,920 posts
Zed here. Now just try pronouncing that old BBC TV series 'Z Cars' ('Zed' Cars). It just just doesn't sound right with a 'Zee'. Unless maybe you are french.
  #14  
Old 01-28-2004
Per Hansson's Avatar
TS Special Forces
 
Location: Sweden
Member since: Feb 2002, 1,135 posts
System specs
Alright, now you have really cleared up my confusion, thanx allot guys!

Zee(d) out ;-)
  #15  
Old 01-28-2004
ptitterington's Avatar
TechSpot Member
 
Location: Channel Islands
Member since: Feb 2002, 348 posts
So now we progress to the letter H, Some say aitch some say haitch

you say potato............
  #16  
Old 01-28-2004
Goofy Newfie's Avatar
TechSpot Member
 
Location: St. John's, Canada
Member since: Mar 2002, 211 posts
zed.........

Must be a British Empire thingy.
  #17  
Old 01-28-2004
StormBringer's Avatar
TechSpot Guru
 
Location: USA
Member since: Apr 2002, 2,871 posts
Z is a letter, Zed is the old man who lives down the road, sits on his front porch cleaning his toenails with a hunting knife
  #18  
Old 01-29-2004
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Location: has left the building
Member since: Aug 2003, 8,160 posts
You guys ever heard how the name "America" came into being?
About a thousand years ago, some vikings discovered land at the other side of the ocean.
They found some natives on the beach, who started jumping and shouting when they saw this big ship. So the Viking's chief, Eric, climbed onto the railing of the ship, and also started jumping, while shouting "I'm Eric, I'm Eric". Then his foot slipped, and the shout sounded like "I'm Eric, Aaaaggghhh".


PS: Zed for me (Irish), Zee for my wife (American)
  #19  
Old 01-29-2004
SubKamran's Avatar
TechSpot Member
 
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Member since: Dec 2003, 303 posts
IINM, it's "Zed" but Americans (like me) pronounce it "Zee".

In Pakistan, since they use British english, it's "Zed", and it's "Zeb-ra" not "Zee-bra".

It's cool
  #20  
Old 01-29-2004
SNGX1275's Avatar
TS Special Forces
 
Location: Rolla, Missouri, USA
Member since: Feb 2002, 8,213 posts
System specs
The little ABC's song you hear on kids shows in the US has lots of rhymes in it, and if you say Zed it just doesn't fit the rhyme of the rest of the song.
Closed Thread
Thread Tools

Forum Jump

Similar Topics
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How do you pronounce 'Mictlantecuhtli' :D ToRN The Meeting 'spot' 5 02-22-2002 07:49 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:22 AM.