Zebra

The traditional British English pronunciation has the first syllable rhyming with 'sea' - 'ZEE-bra' SAMPA: /"zi:brA/. The American pronunciation, which has the first syllable rhyming with 'said' or 'bed' SAMPA: /"zEbrA/, is becoming more common in the UK. Jones says that this is especially true of the 'zebra crossing' to help pedestrians cross roads more safely.

Older speakers prefer the traditional - and academic teachers are often older than their students.