happyhomemaker25 Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Do you say "possum" or "o-possum"? DUMB QUESTION but it's very important. LOL :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kiddies Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 It is a silent o. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 :iagree: It is a silent o. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Opossum. Or Space Rat. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Opossum. Except in the idiom "playing 'possum". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usetoschool Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Just plain possum - maybe it is regional? I am in the west. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaney Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 No "o" for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 According to Merriam-Webster, it's oppossum: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opossum Wikipedia says animals the Western Hemisphere are oppossums, and marsupials in Australia are possums (although I confess I've never heard that before): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opossum Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLynnTX Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Definitely just plain possum....Haven't you heard the Alan Jackson's song, Just playin' possum? George Jones was nicknamed the Possum....NOT O-possum!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in WI Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Opossum. Except in the idiom "playing 'possum". :iagree: :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Here, we say "possum" so that must be right, isn't it???? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HayesW Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I know that opossum is correct, but I still say possum. Always Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I say possum because I don't want to waste another syllable on such a stupid, loathsome animal. "Why did the chicken cross the road?" "To show the possum that there IS a way!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I say possum because I don't want to waste another syllable on such a stupid, loathsome animal. "Why did the chicken cross the road?" "To show the possum that there IS a way!" :lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I know that opossum is correct, but I still say possum. Always Yup. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellyndria Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Since the word is opossum... I say opossum. Funny, that. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Possum. No "o". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Opossum. Except in the idiom "playing 'possum". Oh, Abbey---you're makin' me disagree with you! It's plain ol' possum all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 From the South - No "o" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yslek Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Both. Depending on what comes out of my mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 We're a strictly opossum house. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Possum. Only city folk say the "o". ;) Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Wikipedia says animals the Western Hemisphere are oppossums, and marsupials in Australia are possums (although I confess I've never heard that before):http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opossum You got there before me... A possum (plural form: possums) is any of about 69 small to medium-sized arboreal marsupial species native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi (and introduced to New Zealand and China). The name derives from their resemblance to the opossums of the Americas. (The name is from Algonquian wapathemwa, not Greek or Latin, so the plural is possums, not possa.) Possum is also used in North America as a short form of Opossum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 (edited) I from the south and I just say 'possum unless I am being silly and then I say OOO-possum. Dictionary.com list both as acceptable variations and I do believe that is standard but I can't say that I have ever heard anyone say it with the O sound that didn't sound ridiculous. :D ETA: Dictionary.com further goes on to state that the first recorded usage of the shortened version was 1613. Edited February 13, 2010 by KidsHappen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbie Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Possum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 possum here also :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Oh and this is not the first time this question has been asked either. Apparently it is common for people who say one to marry people who say the other. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Opossum. But I know it's really possum, being from the South. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 (edited) Possum. I'm from Oklahoma (eta: but I *am* from the city. ;)). :P Edited February 13, 2010 by Mrs Mungo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabeline Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I say possum. I'm from CA and very much a city girl.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Possum I am from Oklahoma too but I never heard anyone say opossum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMc Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 We had this discussion just last week at our house. Possum is the accepted version all my life. Opossum may be the correct way in some places, probably where the say pecan, (\ a \ as a in ash), instead of pecan ,(\ ä \ as o in mop), like you should. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Oh and this is not the first time this question has been asked either. Apparently it is common for people who say one to marry people who say the other. :tongue_smilie: Well, my darling husband pronounces vase as V-(short o)-Z. What is THAT all about?? He also says range instead of stove and oscillator instead of fan. He puts his clothes in a draw but he drawers a picture. I don't care who ya are...that boy talks funny! Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Oh, it's totally p'CON! I agree with you there! Even though I prefer the more technically correct "opossum" to "'possum". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Well, I tend to *say* 'possum as often as I remember to say opossum, because that's how I grew up. But it really should be oppossum.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I say possum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SproutMamaK Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I say possum. Unfortunately, the only time I actually SAY possum is in the following context: "Honey, the possum knocked over the garbage cans so he could eat the poop out of the baby's dirty diapers again!" Seriously. I don't know what has possessed the possum that lives by our home, but he's got to have some serious psychological issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle My Bell Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 We had this discussion just last week at our house. Possum is the accepted version all my life. Opossum may be the correct way in some places, probably where the say pecan, (\ a \ as a in ash), instead of pecan ,(\ ä \ as o in mop), like you should. ;) Weird, because I say Opossum and pecan as in mop. It must be an Ohio thing because I never thought to say them the other ways. OFF SUBJECT COMMENT: Just got back from Avatar.... WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Mama Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Well, my darling husband pronounces vase as V-(short o)-Z. What is THAT all about?? He also says range instead of stove and oscillator instead of fan. He puts his clothes in a draw but he drawers a picture. I don't care who ya are...that boy talks funny! Barb Bless his heart. Whatever will you do with him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockermom Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 possum (Ice Age can't be wrong, can it?) ;) p'CON (If you say it just right, you can sound like a chicken.) You keep your clean draws in your droors (phonetically speaking, of course). Now, how do you guys pronounce caramel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfatherslily Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 No, no, no. It's "a possum". As in, "Hey, kids, look! There's 'a possum' dead in the middle of the road!" The "uh" sound of the "a" makes the "o" unnecessary! See, doesn't that just work out perfectly?! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Bless his heart. Whatever will you do with him? I know! He gives me the vapors, Sugar. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsm Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I say with the "o" he says it without it. kids say "o" , at least around me both of us say pecan with the ah as in mop sound:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockermom Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 No, no, no. It's "a possum". As in, "Hey, kids, look! There's 'a possum' dead in the middle of the road!" The "uh" sound of the "a" makes the "o" unnecessary! See, doesn't that just work out perfectly?! :D I have often thought this exact thought. (Yes, I DO occasionally have thoughts. :tongue_smilie:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lollie010 Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 No, no, no. It's "a possum". As in, "Hey, kids, look! There's 'a possum' dead in the middle of the road!" The "uh" sound of the "a" makes the "o" unnecessary! See, doesn't that just work out perfectly?! :D Finally, someone who can understand!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangearrow Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Possum. Only city folk say the "o". ;) Cat :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyhomemaker25 Posted February 13, 2010 Author Share Posted February 13, 2010 You guys are great. DH said o-possum today and I swear I have never heard it said that way. I guess this FL girl just does not get it. LOL I had to know what others thought. He thought I was crazy! I thought he was crazy. LOL :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 We had this discussion just last week at our house. Possum is the accepted version all my life. Opossum may be the correct way in some places, probably where the say pecan, (\ a \ as a in ash), instead of pecan ,(\ ä \ as o in mop), like you should. ;) I am redneck (aka Jeff Foxworthy) southern because we pronounce it pe-can. We also say ant as in my ant May. Although, we could probably figure out what you were trying to say if you said pe-con or aunt. It would sound snooty though. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAMom Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Answering before reading: possum.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 possum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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