I have never heard clique pronounced like it rhymes with fleek. That one threw me off, since it's always pronounced the same as "click", at least where I am. I guess creek could have the same issue, but I would guess that's more localized.
It's pronounced cleek in British English but cleek and click in American English. I've heard both from American sources, so I think it's a regional thing. I know Smash Mouth pronounces it click based on Walkin' on the Sun.
Doesn’t really work though… maybe in the original Arabic? Although every time I’ve heard Arabs say it (aka in the news or so) it’s always been “shay-kh” too
Edit: I stand corrected! However, “shay-kh” appears to be the most common one by a LONG shot
Yeah, it’s definitely SUPPOSED to be shaykh, but it’s definitely been corrupted in a lot of the English world. I believe the radio ads I heard for the 1920s film always said Sheek, and that’s probably how most of the English world became familiar with the word.
Edit: I stand corrected! However, “shay-kh” appears to be the most common one by a LONG shot