Queer Eye guys debate the correct pronunciation of ‘squirrel’

Queer Eye guys debating the pronunciation of the word "squirrel"

The Queer Eye guys have continued their discussion over the correct pronunciation of “squirrel”—and it seems they are no closer to settling the matter.

Four of the Fab Five—Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown and Antoni Poroswki—hotly-debated how the noun for the furry animal should be spoken during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday (March 18).

The Queer Eye cast first clashed over the word “squirrel” during the first episode in Season 3 of the Emmy Award-winning show, which was released on Netflix on Friday (March 15).

During the episode, France took offence to the way the rest of the Fab Five pronounced the term.

France clashes with the rest of the Queer Eye Fab Five over “squirrel” pronunciation

While Bobby Berk, Brown, Van Ness, and Porowski all used the Americanised pronunciation—which Kimmel noted is spoken in a similar way to the word “coral”—UK-born France instead used the Anglicised version of the noun, which sounds a bit like “quarrel.”

The Americanised version of “squirrel” is generally said aloud in such a way that it nearly rhymes with the word “swirl.”

Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live, France vented: “America, the correct pronunciation of ‘squirrel’ is ‘squi—rrel’…it’s two syllables!”

“Why are Americans saying [Americanised version] ‘squirrel’?”

“It’s two syllables!”

—Tan France

Porowski, however, said of France’s pronunciation: “You make it a little extra.”

Watch the Queer Eye guys on Jimmy Kimmel Live below:


Queer Eye‘s Antoni Porowski clears up third-wheel photo with Pete Davidson and Kate Beckinsale

Elsewhere in the interview, Porowski cleared up a viral photo taken of him, Pete Davidson and Kate Beckinsale. 

In the image, a sad-looking Porowski is pictured beside Davidson and Beck, who are engaging in a passionate kiss.

“I just wanna say, just to finally clarify, there were two hockey players going for it, basically like beating the hell out of each other, and I was genuinely concerned.”

Queer Eye‘s first lesbian hero, 23-year-old Jess, recently spoke to PinkNews about appearing on the show.

“The thing that Queer Eye has changed for me the most would have to be my own self-confidence, like, I believe firmly that I can do anything that I could,” she said.

“Part of it is spending time with guys like Jonathan and Karamo and Bobby and Antoni and Tan, but part of it is just allowing myself to be vulnerable in front of cameras.

“Part of it is just putting myself out there and speaking my truth and not being afraid about it.”