Views of an Active: How to pronounce Greek letters (Part 2)

Newly+selected+sorority+women+race+down+Rose+Street+Sunday+after+hearing+which+awaiting+house+on+Greek+Row+would+become+their+new+home-away-from-home.+Photo+by+Josh+Mott+%7C+Staff

Newly selected sorority women race down Rose Street Sunday after hearing which awaiting house on Greek Row would become their new home-away-from-home. Photo by Josh Mott | Staff

Matt Hasty

Hello to week two of the six-week Greek letter series.

As I said last week, learning the pronunciation of Greek letters is essential to ensure one gives respect and proper etiquette to fraternities and sororities. 

Plus, learning the Greek alphabet is another thing you can add to your ever-expanding brain.

Here are this week’s Greek letters:

1.Epsilon

Pronounced like (ep-seal-on), Epsilon is used in the names of two fraternities here at UK, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

2.Zeta

Pronounced like (zay-ta), Zeta is used in the name of a NPHC sorority, Zeta Phi Beta and a Panhellenic Council (PC) sorority, Delta Zeta.

3.Eta 

Pronounced like (ay-ta), Eta is not used in any fraternity or sorority names here at UK. It is a letter you really do not see a lot in fraternity or sorority names. 

4.Theta

Pronounced like (thay-ta), Theta is used in the fraternity names Theta Chi, Beta Theta Pi and Phi Delta Theta. Additionally, Theta is used in a NPHC fraternity and sorority Iota Phi Theta and Delta Sigma Theta respectively. Theta is also used in a PC sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta.

Stay tuned for more letters coming to you next week.