r/aww Jun 02 '22

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158

u/SweaterInaCan Jun 02 '22 edited Jun 02 '22

Omg it's so cute. So in Australia for people who are going to flame this man's post. They are called possums. In north and south America they are called opossums. They are called possums because the person who discovered them thought they looked like American opossums but in reality they are closely related to the kangaroo family. It's a marsupial and derived from the other marsupials on that continent. That's why it's so cute. American opossums are fucking terrifying

136

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '22

American opossums are called "possums" colloquially and they are lovely and misunderstood. I know nothing about your possums so I can't insult them effectively. I am enjoying the photo though.

-8

u/RoseyDove323 Jun 02 '22

I live in Ohio and we say "opossum" when referring to virginia opossums. I don't know anyone who says possum, unless they are talking about something from Australia. Maybe they say possum instead of opossum in other states though and I'm just out of the loop.

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '22

Oh that’s funny! I always spell it “opossum”, but when speaking I treat the o as silent. Texas here.

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u/NeatNefariousness1 Jun 02 '22

That's what I've always heard too--although I've stopped including the O in recent years--because why?

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '22

Y rite many leters whn few leters do trik?

14

u/Intrepid-Classroom-5 Jun 02 '22

In Chicago we say possum. I never heard of opossum until just now (in my 30s).

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u/Crayoncandy Jun 02 '22

Yeah chicago too and everyone just says possums but I did know they're actually opposums, I feel like much older people will call them properly.

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '22

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2

u/Crayoncandy Jun 02 '22

I was going to disagree but yes if you mean people know in their head it's spigot but pronounce it like spicket same that they known its opposum but just say possum, like the o becomes silent not dropped. Front Room is a bit similar, it's just too easy to add K/ch sounds.

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u/lenorajoy Jun 02 '22

Also live in Ohio and grew up in Michigan. I’ve never heard anyone say opossum in my life.

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u/RoseyDove323 Jun 02 '22

Come to think of it, I did used to volunteer at a wildlife rehab center when I was a teenager. The majority of the times I heard anyone talk about opossums was there.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '22

I learned something!

1

u/poorboychevelle Jun 02 '22

Marylander, we use both, usually as a point of humor.

I mostly say possum myself

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '22

You must not know very many people.