Rihanna is one of the biggest stars in music, fashion and cosmetics today, but some fans on social media have just discovered they have been pronouncing the megastar's name wrong all this time.
Hear the correct pronunciation below:
During the an interview promoting her latest Savage X Fenty Show, Rihanna teased the sound of her elusive ninth album and suggested it will be totally unexpected.
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“You’re not gonna expect what you hear, just put that in your mind,” the We Found Love singer shared coyly with Associated Press. “Whatever you know of Rihanna is not gonna be what you hear.”
Rihanna's third person reference piqued the ears of Twitter users who realised the Bajan star's name is pronounced "Ree-Anna", rather than "Ree-Ah-Na", with the latter usually how it's usually pronounced in the US.
"Every so often Rihanna subtly reminds us that we’re saying her name wrong," wrote one Twitter user in response to Rihanna's interview.
A debate began between British and American Rihanna fans, with both sides arguing about the correct way.
"Only Americans say it wrong," declared a Rihanna fan.
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One other person agreed, writing in response: "I was about to say the Brits actually get it right lol."
Some Twitter users mentioned moments when they've heard other celebrities pronounce Rihanna's name correctly, including drag legend RuPaul and talk show host James Corden.
"I always notice when [people] say her name right cuz it’s rare," wrote another fan. "The last person I noticed who said her name right was RuPaul. Which doesn’t surprise me. I feel like [people] with unique and/or often mispronounced names are more conscious about this like that."
Similarly, one Twitter user said: "James Corden was saying it right. I think it truly is us Americans that say it wrong."
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And one person joked: "She can keep referring to herself in the THIRD PERSON until we all get that shit right - which will be never."
Now that we know how to say Rihanna, where is the album?!
Featured Image Credit: Alamy