Because the words are from two different languages?

You've just been pronouncing females wrong this whole time and everybody was too embarrassed to correct you.

Fuh-MAH-lays, just like it looks.

Single hot femalés in your area!

I like my fe-mah-lays like I like my ta-mah-lays. Steaming hot and wrapped in corn husks!

Right?!? Guys?!?

I know this is a joke but idc. The reason for basically every quirk of pronunciation/spelling in English is borrowed words, of which English has very many. Tamales is an obvious/good example.

I sometimes like to mispronounce stuff, that I know the proper pronunciation of, just for kicks and this is just ammo for my annoying habit.

Reminds me of this poem: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chaos

That would mean "male" is pronounced "molly."

I am just the right amount of high for this one. I can coast on this tweet for a solid 20 minute think sesh.

I'm struggling here because I don't know what that word is. So I can't work out what the ultimate pronunciation of female is either

Why can’t ‘tamales’ just be pronounced like “ta-males”?

Otherwise we’ll have to start pronouncing ‘males’ like “mall-ehs”.

Just pronounce it oddly enough that people look at you weirdly.

Femalès, with emphasis on the last e. Like "learnèd" (learn-ed, a wise person).

And why aren't Batman and Goodman pronounced the same.

I think it should be Bat-mun.

I'm going to start pronouncing them both the same

A better question: How many folks thought they misspelled the second "females"?

how naming a gastro strip club Females and Tamales?