Omicron and Omega. O micron is "small" "o" and O mega is "big" "O". The small O is in the middle of the Greek alphabet and the big O is at the end, alpha and omega. (Note it is mega not maga)
Now how do we pronounce this? It depends. If one has studied classic Greek, even New Testament Greek, then we remember that in Greek, like French and many other European languages we emphasize the second syllable. English tends at best to emphasize the first if not placing any emphasis. Spies to their detriments learned this. American English is almost un-emphasized syllabic in tone.
Now back to Omicron. Syllables are O, mi, cron. Thus we should emphasize the second syllable, not the first.
Now is the i in mi a long or short i? Does it sound like me or eye in English? In older Greek it is "me" the short i.
Thus we should say, oh-me-krun. Try that out on CNN!
I learned these nuances while in Athens with one of my companies, Zephyr Hellas. Americans do not listen to spoken nuances in other languages, it is essential however. In fact, if one wants to be really correct the me-krun has a trilling or the r somewhat, not found in English.
So is this important or does one just try to sound more educated? Frankly, in today's culturally sensitive world perhaps we should defend the way the word was meant to be said, unless cultural appropriation takes Greek words and makes them American News Speak. But alas, we no longer study Greek, and we no longer study Latin. They infuse our English but alas no one really knows that any longer. In fact, if one were to use this knowledge of the past tongues one could get criticized as being over educated! Happened to me recently, but also it reflected more on the critic than on my attempt to respect the old tongues.
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