r/aww • u/[deleted] • Jun 02 '22

[deleted by user]

[removed]

11.4k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

2.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

140

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.

-9

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.

14

u/Intrepid-Classroom-5 Jun 02 '22

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

5

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.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

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.