British people say "Zed" for the letter "Z" because it's the traditional pronunciation that originated from the Greek letter "Zeta". This pronunciation was adopted into the English language during the 15th century and remained the standard in Britain and other Commonwealth countries.
The pronunciation "Zee" is a more recent development that emerged in the United States. It's believed to be a result of the letter "Z" becoming less common in American English compared to British English. This led to a shift in pronunciation, likely influenced by the similar sounds of the letters "B", "C", and "D".
Here's a brief timeline of the letter "Z" pronunciation:
- 12th Century: The letter "Z" was introduced to English from Old French, where it was pronounced as "zede".
- 15th Century: The English pronunciation shifted from "zede" to "zed", which became the standard in England and other parts of the British Empire.
- 18th Century: American English began to diverge from British English, leading to the development of the "Zee" pronunciation.
So, the next time you hear a British person say "Zed", remember that they're simply following the traditional pronunciation that has been passed down through generations.
