# on the alphabet song (zee vs. zed)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-alphabet-song-zee-vs-zed/222750>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 5, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-alphabet-song-zee-vs-zed/222750 "2004-01-05T03:44:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AngelOfMusic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@AngelOfMusic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelOfMusic)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-alphabet-song-zee-vs-zed/222750/1 "2004-01-05T03:44:32Z")

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this may be a really silly question, but I’ll ask it anyway. In countries that speak British English, the last leter of the alphabet is pronounced “zed” and in the USA it’s pronounced “zee.” My question is, do you sing the alphabet song in British English? if so, do you say “zed” at the end? it seems odd because it doesn’t rhyme. Also, do we in the US say “zee” because it does rhyme, or does it just happen that way? Is the alphabet arranged the way it is because it rhymes so nicely? thanks in advance

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**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-alphabet-song-zee-vs-zed/222750/2 "2004-01-05T05:30:26Z")

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We use “zed” in the song in British English.

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**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-alphabet-song-zee-vs-zed/222750/3 "2004-01-05T05:31:37Z")

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Edited the title for clarity.

- **xash**  
General Questions Moderator

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**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-alphabet-song-zee-vs-zed/222750/4 "2004-01-05T07:35:21Z")

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Depends. As a child in Ireland, I was first exposed to the alphabet song though (I think) hearing it on _Sesame Street_, which was rebroadcast by Irish television. We sang “zee” and thought it was hysterically funny.