It's pronounced "DEE-mon," just like the English "demon" The Greek term originally refered to an intermediary spirit between the gods and mankind, whether that spirit was malignant or benevolent. It's meaning later shifted to mean a malevolent spirit, while the term "angelos" (messenger) was ascribed to the divine spirits.
"Day-mon" is the mispronunciation I hear most often, and, oddly, "ay" is one of the few ways "æ" is not pronounced. You can pronounce it like "EE" (as in Encyclopædia, as has been mentioned), like "UH" in my name (Michael), or "IE" or "AYE" as in the Latin "Vitæ."
Occasionally, I've heard the Greek pronunciation as "IE" as well, such as "DIE-mon" or "PIE-day-uh" (knowledge). But never "AY." |