The last letter of the alphabet is called zed in British English and zee in American English. Same letter, two names.
First, how do you say it?
British: zed, rhymes with bed
American: zee, rhymes with see
The weird part
English speakers do not all agree on the name of this letter, even though they all agree on the shape. Zed is also the usual name in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most other English-speaking countries. The split is most visible between British and American English.
Where do the names come from?
The letter came into English through Latin and Greek. The name zed comes from Old French zede and Late Latin zeta, and the Greek letter it was borrowed from is zeta.
The American zee is also old. The Online Etymology Dictionary says the American pronunciation was attested by the 1670s, so it was not an invention of the 1800s.
📌 Good to know
Most dictionaries record both forms, with British and American labels. The word you use depends on where you learned English, and both are correct for their speakers.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Know which name your audience uses. Both are correct, but the name depends on who you are talking to.
❌ Saying zee to a British class and expecting no puzzled looks.
✅ Use the name your audience uses, and know the other one exists.
💬 In a Conversation
Tom (in London): What's the last letter?
Amy (in New York): Zee.
Tom: Zed.
Amy: It's the same letter, Tom.
Tom: It's the same letter, Amy. It's just not the same word.
💡 The OddLingo Takeaway
A letter can have two names, and both names can be old, correct and used every day.