It’s “zhee-lay” with the emphasis on the “zhee”. It’s French ffs, it makes me cringe to hear people say “ghyll-it” or “jill-it”. If you can’t bring yourself to say a French word properly, then call it a “sleeveless windproof” or “waistcoat” or something. And please not “vest”, it’s a vile Americanism.
Yeah it’s zhee-lay, but the “lay” bit isn’t quite right. I don’t think there’s an english sound/pronunciation which corresponds with that french sound/pronunciation. If you know how to say “lait” as in the french for milk, it’s that – zhee-lait.
Mind you I struggle even pronouncing english words correctly as Her Majesty would, so I’m probably not exactly the best person to give an opinion.
Funnily enough, for a song about 2 blokes who don’t know any french, their pronounciation is not bad really. Jermaine even says ‘Bonjour’ with something that sounds (to my half eeengleesh half pyrenéen ears) like a Calais accent.
“(and that’s not a vest in the photo, it’s a simmit) “
The king would beg to differ
(don’t make us invade again, before you even leave !!)
The sleeveless garment worn by men beneath the coat was introduced by Charles II.
The King hath yesterday, in Council, declared his resolution of setting a fashion for clothes …. It will be a vest, I know not well how; but it is to teach the nobility thrift. [Pepys, “Diary,” Oct. 8, 1666]
I own one, but never wear it. It was an insane purchase many years ago. When I got home I remembered the only French I knew courtesy of one of our local lads being trussed up in the back of a van at a dock strike about 20 years ago and thrown out after 5hrs.
It’s only problematic at dinner parties in the ‘burbs should the polite conversation get around to cycling attire. The embarrassment from getting it wrong would probably mean a – self imposed – exile for a few months
It’s French ffs, it makes me cringe to hear people say “ghyll-it” or “jill-it”. If you can’t bring yourself to say a French word properly…So how do you pronounce Paris?