Most Americans pronounce emu as emoo, while Australians pronounce it emew.
Even though this debate has been going on for a long time, Liberty Mutual’s Lemu from the TV insurance ads, probably has a lot to do with how most Americans pronounce it.
Back when we first got our emus, back in the mid-1990’s, I always said that I come from Wisconsin, the dairy state, and I pronounce it “emoo”. When people would say it should be “emew”, with a long e, I would tell them that emus are not cats either. Still others pronounce it “emmew”, with a short e.
This WGN video explains the debate further.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl4jvsIwdGU
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