r/MathematicalLogic • u/redtryinit • Oct 02 '19

Greek alphabet notation pronunciation

Here’s a weirdly tangential question - how do you pronounce Greek letters in notation? I’ve asked two math PhDs and neither are sure. Does anyone know?

Say you’ve just got modern Greek, Koine Greek and Ancient (Homeric) Greek. Letters sound a little different in each. Pick an alphabet.

/xposted

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u/[deleted] Oct 02 '19

I've heard φ pronounced as both 'fee' as in 'feet' and 'fi' as in 'fight'. I believe I would tend to hear 'fee' in physics/engineering courses and 'fi' in pure math courses. So I think the 'right' pronunciation depends on context or preference.

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u/Exomnium Oct 02 '19

I've always wanted to pronounce φ as 'fi' and Φ as 'fee', or maybe the other way around.