Calling all Americans! 350Zed or 350Zee ?

[DieterCabral]

Ok, this is the way I figured it

European, Asian = ZED (BMW Z1, Z4, Z8, Z3,etc...)

American = Zee (Camaro Z-28)


Now, I am Mexican so I am used to the sound of Zed (Brittish), but I can understand that for an American its difficult to get used to using Zed when they use Zee

[MrVette83]

Ok, I've never known the letter Z to be pronounced in any other form than ZEE, where is it that Zed comes from? Is it always pronounced like this(i.e. zero would actually sound like zedero or zdero?) or is it just when the letter is said alone? The main reason that we Americans pronounce it this way is that it's how we're taught.

[Matra et Alpine]

Originally Posted by MrVette83

Ok, I've never known the letter Z to be pronounced in any other form than ZEE, where is it that Zed comes from? Is it always pronounced like this(i.e. zero would actually sound like zedero or zdero?) or is it just when the letter is said alone? The main reason that we Americans pronounce it this way is that it's how we're taught.

It's not the pronunciation, it's the 'name' of the letter that's being discussed.

"Zed" comes from the original Greek zeta via Old French zede, and pretty much all English speakers worldwide pronounce it that way. The reason Americans don't is because you had a pretty major falling out with the people that did, and in the aftermath, seized on dialectical nuances and amplified them. The last thing an American wanted to sound
like after the Revolution was an Englishman, or vice-versa

So like driving on the right hand side of the road, you're doing it the wrong way

[cls12vg30]

We aren't doing it the wrong way, we're doing it OUR way.

Many Americans have never heard the word Zed, ever. The only reason I'm familiar with it is I used to live so close to Canada.

[eyebrows]

i must be wierd i say it both ways... and im an aussie so, u figure it out

[Falcon500]

Well we pronounce it zeros as well though our emphisis is the diffrence we say it zero where an american says it zEEEro much like saying Mazda americans say it mAZ-dah or celica americans say it cEL-i-KA.
It remonds me of an old skect comady show that had a course HOW TA tAWLK Ummrikahn....

[Matra et Alpine]

Originally Posted by cls12vg30

We aren't doing it the wrong way, we're doing it OUR way.

Chill man, I thought I'd added enough smileys to make sure no one was uppity. Sorry it failed

And btw you're actually doing it the FRENCH way. It was after the French revolution that main part of Europe under French control changed. Then everyone else has followed !!

[fpv_gtho]

Originally Posted by Falcon500

Well we pronounce it zeros as well though our emphisis is the diffrence we say it zero where an american says it zEEEro much like saying Mazda americans say it mAZ-dah or celica americans say it cEL-i-KA.
It remonds me of an old skect comady show that had a course HOW TA tAWLK Ummrikahn....

dont get me started, i cant stop thinking of how the americans pronounce Miata......lol

[Egg Nog]

Originally Posted by Matra et Alpine

And btw you're actually doing it the FRENCH way.

No dude, they're doing it the freedom way.

[cls12vg30]

I wasn't offended. Guess I should have added a smiley, too.

How do you guys think Americans pronounce these words?
We say MAH-zda, I assume you all say MAA-zda?
I've heard Canadians say it that way.
Not sure how you say Miata, but we say mee-A-ta. I have heard people say mee-AAA-ta, though, (with a flat a). Depends on where in the U.S. you are, there's lots of regional differences in word use and pronunciation.

Oh and Celica is SEL-i-ka. What do you guys say, sel-EEE-ka?

And yes we do say ZEE-ro.

What really freaks me is when I hear a European or the occasional Canadian say NIS-aaan. Almost everyone here says, Nee-san.

[fpv_gtho]

i say:

se-lee-ka
ni-san
maz-da
mi-ata (even though its MX-5 really)

[Nildo]

I always called it the Zed, mostly because it sounds better than zee. Zee sounds too....oh, I don't know, open ended. Zed. Nice and final. It's all about the consonant.

But seriously, surely this is simply down to where you live. I mean, manufacturers don't really to 'correct' pronunciation of their products, do they? Already on this page there is a plethora of different (ie wrong ) methods of pronouncing certain names. If in doubt, do as Matra does, and do it the French way.

[carlover]

Originally Posted by Egg Nog

No dude, they're doing it the freedom way.

Yep, and we're eating freedom fries, and playing freedom horns, and chomping down freedom toast.

[ZerK]

I use Zee and Zed for different cars... the MG ZR, ZS and ZT I say Zed as Zee-Ess sounds wierd, as does Zee-Tee etc.

With the 350Z and 240Z they're both Zee as it rolls of the tounge better, and sounds cooler too

The 300ZX is a definate Zed, as Zee-Ex ends up sounding like Zeeks

It just depends; American cars usually get Zee treatment, British Zed, and so on

[megotmea7]

this thread is a total mind trip, i never knew the entire world pronounced Z different than us, i guess americans do live in their own little world.
wow, how does the rest of the world pronounce miata? most ppl including me say mi-yada or mi-yata
nice thread!