"Why isn’t 'female' pronounced like…

The words “female” and “tamale” are pronounced differently. “Why is the word ‘female’ not pronounced like ‘tamale’? Civilization will end if I do not find the answer” was posted on Twitter by Allen Anderson on February 15, 2011.

“Why isn’t ‘female’ pronounced like ‘tamale’?” was posted on Twitter by Trevor May on June 22, 2012. “why isn’t female pronounced like tamale?? halp” was posted on Twitter by colby schmidt on March 16, 2015. “Why isn’t female pronounced like tamale or the other way around?” was posted on Reddit—Showerthoughts on March 31, 2017. “Why isn’t female pronounced like tamale” was posted on Twitter by Bottom left burner freak on December 26, 2019.

“What if female was pronounced like tamale. Feh mah lay.. I’m cracking myself up” was posted on Twitter by Jay K on May 14, 2013. “What if female was pronounced like tamale” was posted on Twitter by jensen on December 14, 2014. “What if females was pronounced like tamales” was posted on Reddit—Showerthoughts on December 13, 2015. “what if female was pronounced like tamale” was posted on Twitter by dennis on October 13, 2020. “WHAT IF YOU PRONOUNCED FEMALE LIKE TAMALE” was posted on Twitter by El Arroyo (as shown on the restaurant’s sign) on March 28, 2021.

Wikipedia: Tamale
A tamale or tamal is a traditional Mesoamerican dish, made of masa or dough (starchy, and usually corn-based), which is steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf. The wrapping can either be discarded prior to eating or used as a plate. Tamales can be filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, chilies or any preparation according to taste, and both the filling and the cooking liquid may be seasoned.

Tamale is an anglicized version of the Spanish word tamal (plural: tamales). Tamal comes from the Nahuatl tamalli. The English tamale is a back-formation of tamales, with English speakers interpreting the -e- as part of the stem, rather than part of the plural suffix -es.

Twitter
Kelly McCormick
@kmccormi
just inadvertently pronounced “female” so that it rhymes with “tamale” in my head.
3:36 PM · Mar 16, 2009·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Allen Anderson
@Blueturtle2009
Why is the word “female” not pronounced like “tamale”? Civilization will end if I do not find the answer.
8:14 PM · Feb 15, 2011·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
jack of hearts
@JackZagg
Female, pronounced like tamale.
5:26 PM · Jul 13, 2011·Twitter for Android

Twitter
Trevor May TRΞVΘR MΛY
@trvrmy
Why isn’t “female” pronounced like “tamale”?
10:30 AM · Jun 22, 2012·Twitter for Mac

Twitter
Sam Winkhouse
@SamWinkhouse
If “Female” was pronounced like “tamale” that’d be so great.
3:56 PM · Feb 28, 2013·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
Jay K
@realjayk
What if female was pronounced like tamale. Feh mah lay.. I’m cracking myself up
2:39 PM · May 14, 2013·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
Kelbasa
@kelseybercher
I wish female was pronounced like tamale.
9:36 PM · Oct 14, 2013·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
broox
@brooxmp3
what if the word female was pronounced like the word tamale
2:23 AM · Oct 11, 2014·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
jensen
@jensendoes
What if female was pronounced like tamale
10:58 PM · Dec 14, 2014·Twitter for Android

Twitter
Gnocchi Llama
@InfinityBits
My gender identity is female but pronounced like tamale
2:32 PM · Dec 16, 2014·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
colby schmidt
@colbschmidt
why isn’t female pronounced like tamale?? halp
7:36 PM · Mar 16, 2015·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
kath
@lmaobleach
What if female was pronounced like tamale
2:12 AM · May 15, 2015·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
big destiny
@bagelattack
what if we pronounced female like tamale
6:15 PM · Jun 27, 2015·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
alexis
@alexisbutner
What if we pronounced female like we pronounced tamale?
1:21 AM · Jun 28, 2015·Twitter for Android

Twitter
OD THA OG
@oddikinz
What if we pronounced “female” the same way we pronounce “tamale”
1:31 AM · Sep 29, 2015·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
Jenn @ FFXIV e12s
@chuuyanakaharas
What if female was pronounced the way you pronounce tamale? Feh-mah-lee
2:32 PM · Nov 1, 2015·Twitter for Android

Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/antmbel December 13, 2015
What if females was pronounced like tamales

Twitter
drew
@Drewphillips__
Why isn’t female pronounced like tamale tho it would be way more rad
3:57 PM · Jan 23, 2016·Twitter for iPhone

Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/WatermellonPerson March 31, 2017
Why isn’t female pronounced like tamale or the other way around?
COMMENTS
Pendulym
Tamales originated as Mexican dish, so it seems to have kept (to some extent) its original pronunciation.

Twitter
Kristen Arnett
@Kristen_Arnett
female but pronounced like tamale
11:42 AM · Jul 19, 2018·Twitter Web Client

Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/captaincook- November 30, 2018
It would be weird if female was pronounced the same way as tamale.

Twitter
The Common Man
@tcm97
You’re telling me that female isn’t pronounced the same as tamale?
4:36 PM · Aug 28, 2019·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
Bottom left burner freak
@MikeCohane
Why isn’t female pronounced like tamale
5:15 PM · Dec 26, 2019·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
dennis
@bandz4luv
what if female was pronounced like tamale
3:15 PM · Oct 13, 2020·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
alexia
@alexiaraye
can we start pronouncing female like tamale
4:51 PM · Mar 25, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
El Arroyo
@ElArroyo_ATX
Makes you think…
(The following text is shown on the restaurant’ sign.—ed.)
WHAT IF YOU
PRONOUNCED
FEMALE LIKE
TAMALE
12:28 PM · Mar 28, 2021·IFTTT