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Why is operation pronounced operation and opossum pronounced possum?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
It isn't "pronounced" that way -- it is the name of an animal (Australian possum) used as a slang term for the similar but unrelated animal (North American opossum).
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
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How do you spell posum?
The spelling possum (Australian marsupials) is used for true possums and for the opossum of the Western Hemisphere.
What part of speech is opossum?
Opossum is a noun.
How do you spell the plural of opossum?
The word opossum derives from the Algonquian "aposoum." Its initial vowel became silent in informal speech ( and disappeared from informal spelling ) in the 19th Century, but is always pronounced in formal speech.
What is the meaning of the idiom playing possum?
This expression's meaning may be guessed from the words in it, so it is not an idiom. To play possum is to deceive an attacker by pretending to be dead or vanquished, as the possum proverbially does.
What is the root word meaning of possum?
be able
What does opossums mean?
An Opossum is a mammal. It is North America's only marupial (pouched animal).
How do you say possum in French?
Opossum
Who would win Virginia opossum vs Australian possum?
the australia possum
What is the name of a male opossum?
Mr. Possum
Does possum start with an O or a P?
Possum starts with a 'P'. It is a quite different animal to an opossum, as the possum is native to Australia, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia, whilst the opossum is native to North America.
Is there a male possum?
Whether referring to an opossum or a true possum the answer is yes. Both sexes exist for the species.
How do you spell possum?
There are two forms : "possum" and "opossum". One generalization uses the name "possum" to mean the marsupials of Australia and Asia, and the name "opossum" for the species that live in the Western Hemisphere. They are related but different. In the US, it is common to call an opossum a "possum".Either would be acceptable unless you are writing a technical biology paper.Answer:Possum is the spelling for a marsupial native to Australia, New Zealand and China. Opossums are found in the Americas. The name is drawn from the Powhatan native American languages.
Which cartoon character was opossum?
Pogo Possum who was created by Walt Kelly .
What languages does the word opossum come from?
The Virginia opossum is the original animal named "opossum". The word comes from Algonquian wapathemwa meaning "white animal". Colloquially, the Virginia opossum is frequently called simply "possum".
Are a possum and opossum enemies?
No, they live on different continents so never meet.
Is a possum a marsupial or a mammal?
Yes, an opossum is a marsupial, in fact the largest order of marsupials.
What animal is grey and white?
Sounds like a possum- or more formally, the Opossum.
