(Last modified Fri Jun 06 14:58 2008)
-
Merriam-Webster dictionary
gives
American English definitions and
pronunciation (with an audio clip);
it's the most authoritative American English dictionary.
-
Oxford English Dictionary
(accessible from campus)
gives
very full and authoritative definitions,
British pronunciation (in symbols only),
and example uses from the past millenium or so;
it is the most authoritative English dictionary
but can be more cumbersome to use.
- On this page,
the underlined syllables
are the ones that are stressed when you say the word.
Greek letters
The Greek letters that are most often confused with Latin letters are:
β/B,
ε/e,
η/n,
ι/i,
κ/K,
ν/V,
ρ/p,
τ/T,
υ/u,
χ/x,
ω/w.
The Greek letters I most commonly use in these web pages are, in order
α
β
φ
γ
Γ
Σ
ε
Φ
δ
χ
Δ
θ
ω
λ
Lower
case | Upper
case
| Name in
English
| American pronunciation cue
|
|---|
| α | Α | alpha
| Like calendar, not like all
|
| β | Β | beta
| Like bay, not like bee
|
| γ | Γ | gamma
| Like ham
|
| δ | Δ | delta
| Like bell
|
| ε | Ε | epsilon
| Like step
|
| ζ | Ζ | zeta
| Like bay
|
| η | Η | eta
| Like bay
|
| θ | Θ | theta
| Like bay; unvoiced th like thick, not like they
|
| ι | Ι | iota
| Like eye then owe; stress on o
|
| κ | Κ | kappa
| Like gap
|
| λ | Λ | lambda
| Like lamb
|
| μ | Μ | mu
| Like m followed by you,
or (less commonly) moo
|
| ν | Ν | nu
| Like zoo, no y sound
|
| ξ | Ξ | xi
| Like z followed by eye,
or k followed by sigh
|
| ο | Ο | omicron
| Like ah, middle, on; stress on o
|
| π | Π | pi
| Like pie
|
| ρ | Ρ | rho
| Like row
|
| σ | Σ | sigma
| Like signal
|
| τ | Τ | tau
| Like cow
|
| υ | Υ | upsilon
| Like oops; stress on up
|
| φ | Φ | phi
| Like file
|
| χ | Χ | chi
| Like k followed by eye
|
| ψ | Ψ | psi
| Like p followed by sigh
|
| ω | Ω | omega
| Like oh, may; stress on me
|
It makes no sense to stress the o in
omicron ("little O")
but not in
omega ("big O"),
but there you are, that's what Americans seem to do.
British pronunciation is at least consistent:
omicron
(oh-my-kron).
Other symbols and words that often cause problems
- Ab
- Usually things like this are pronounced "A sub b".
- A, a
- If both cases appear in the same equation,
it is common to hear people say "big A" and "A"
(but usually not "little A" except for emphasis).
- analyses
- Plural of analysis.
One analysis, two analyses. Pronounced "an-AL-is-eez".
Of Greek origin
(thus the plural and the stress on the third-to-last syllable).
- automata
- The plural of automaton.
One automaton, two automata.
It is somewhat rare to see automatons.
Of Greek origin
(αυτοματον).
- axes
- Plural of axis.
One axis, two axes. Pronounced "AX-eez".
Of Latin origin (but probably originally Greek).
- complement
- Sometimes confused with the related word "compliment".
Mathematical uses take "complement" spelled with the 'e'.
- correspondence
- Sometimes confused with the related word "correspondance".
Mathematical uses take "correspondence" spelled with the 'e'.
- criterion / criteria
- One criterion, two criteria.
The OED mentions 'criterions' as 'uncommon' (it's very uncommon).
There is no such word as 'criterias'.
Of Greek origin.
- extremum / extrema
- One extremum, two extrema.
It is rare to see extremums.
Of Latin origin.
- rational vs. rationale
- A number can be rational
(if it's the ratio of two integers);
a person can be rational
(if he or she is thinking logically and clearly),
his or her argument can be rational
(if it's clear and logical),
and a choice he or she makes
can be rational
(if the argument in favor of that choice
is clear, cogent, and more convincing
than the arguments for the alternative choices.
However,
the reasons for making a choice are its rationale.
Pronounced
RA-shu-NAAL.
Rhymes with "pal" and "shall",
but the "nale" syllable lasts a little longer.
- schemata
- The plural of schema
(although schemas is also common).
One schema, two schemata.
Of Greek origin (σχημα),
thus the plural in -ta
and the stress on the third-to-last syllable
sche,
like automaton is also stressed on
its third-to-last.
