It turns out we've been pronouncing the title of 'Emily in Paris' wrong this whole time

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By James Kay

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Emily In Paris has fast become a hit show on Netflix, with a title that seems pretty easy to read... right? Well, apparently we have all been pronouncing it wrong this entire time!

The series stars actress Lily Collins as the ever-optimistic Emily, who is sent to Paris by her company in order to teach a French marketing team all about social media.

The first season was met with mixed reviews, with some critics launching scathing attacks on the narrative and "unlikeable" characters on the show.

Philipa Snow writing for the New Republic wrote: "Its insulting view of both Parisians and Americans has made its message appear muddled, the result being a show that comes across as half-escapist, half-absurdist, all tooth-grindingly unpleasant."

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Lily Collins in Emily In Paris. Credit: American Pictorial Collection / Alamy

That being said, clearly, the show did something right as it shot to the top of Netflix's most-watched list for weeks and the following seasons did exactly the same.

But perhaps one thing most of us native English speakers will agree on, is how we pronounce the title. Well, according to Netflix - we've been saying it wrong.

A tweet after the hit first season taught us that our English pronunciation of Paris was incorrect, and if we say the title as intended, it actually rhymes.

The tweet read: "Friendly reminder Emily in Paris is supposed to be pronounced with a French accent so 'Emily' and 'Paris' rhyme."

To type that out phonetically for anyone still a bit puzzled - the correct pronunciation is apparently Em-ee-lee in Pa-ree.

Of course, with such revelations come masses of people voicing their opinions, both positively and negatively, on the matter.

One person responded: "Friendly remninder [sic]: if you wanted us to pronounce it that way, the title should be Emily en Paris. Otherwise, we're gonna pronounce it in the indicative language, which is English. Soz, Netflix. Them's the rules."

A second joked: "It's true - real Parisians call the city 'Pemily,'" and a third said: "As a French Canadian I can tell you this is very de mauvais goût," which translates to "of bad taste."

There we have it - when you next log on to Netflix, you will (maybe) be speaking with a French accent.

Featured image credit: American Pictorial Collection / Alamy