this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2026
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All of the Canadian youtubers that I watch pronounce the letter z as "zi", as is done in the United States. However, I have read online that it is more common for Canadians to pronounce it as "zed", as is done in the United Kingdom. Is this a regional thing? How do you pronounce the letter z?

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[–] TheFeatureCreature@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 month ago

I seem to alternate depending on context. Never really noticed until thinking back on it.

[–] kbal@fedia.io 4 points 1 month ago

It's like "zed" of course, because I'm > 30 years old. I don't think it's a regional thing, more of a "zoomer" thing maybe?

[–] Handsomest_Robot@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

I have not yet encountered a Canadian who says "zi" the way I do. I've worked at schools here with ages from 12 to 22 and all of the students have said "zed" as well as every teacher and co-workers I've had.

[–] FreeBooteR69@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago
[–] Akuchimoya@startrek.website 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Zed, unless its part of a person/product name where its specifically Zee, like Jay-Zee. Otherwise, it's Gen Zed.

[–] BrainFarmReject@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago
[–] LostWon@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago

For the letter or spelling something out, I'll always say "zed." I think for the most part I only say "zee" if I'm using acronyms that are either specific to US organizations or that both originated there and are still considered to be tightly associated with that country (like if I need to refer to some product from a US company, though none come to mind at the moment).

[–] ratildarat@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago

for my family, it’s very much Zed. jay zed, zed zed top,

[–] Asidonhopo@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Wait, do you pronounce "zi" like "zih" or like "zie"

[–] Witchfire@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

It's the same as "sea" but with a z sound

[–] unknowablenight@piefed.social 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Zie. (Edited, I misunderstood the question)

[–] Jela@lemmy.today 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

To your question, I have a similar one... Do Canadians say tom"ay"to or tom"ah"to? 🍅

What about potato?

[–] vinceman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 month ago

I spell my name with a zed not a zi. From Sask

[–] discomatic@lemmy.ca -1 points 1 month ago (3 children)

At the risk of being unpopular, I say zee. I've been corrected so many times by my friends, but I spent a lot of time in the US and it just stuck. Plus, the alphabet song specifically says zee, and I'm not arguing with that.

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[–] torik@lemmychan.org -1 points 1 month ago (2 children)

American here, can't believe so many of you guys are saying zed.

[–] isVeryLoud@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Canadian English is influenced somewhat by Canadian French. This can be seen in words such as "Supper" (souper) and a drugstore being called a "Pharmacy" (Pharmacie).

Other examples include "toque", "dépanneur"/ "dep", "on special" (on sale), "metro", "pass the vacuum", etc.

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago

Canadian here and I can't believe but either. I hear Zee most of the time so much that Zed sticks out. Ibalso never hear Zedbra but always zeebra.

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