Opossum is a small to medium-sized marsupial native to the Americas, characterized by a pointed snout, prehensile tail, and pale fur. Used mainly in North American contexts, it refers to species such as the Virginia opossum. The term can also refer loosely to related marsupials in Australia and surrounding regions in some non-specialist usage.
"The Virginia opossum often plays dead when threatened."
"Researchers studied the opossum's nocturnal feeding habits."
"In some parts of the United States, people keep opossums as household visitors."
"A museum exhibit highlighted the opossum's unique reproductive biology."
The word opossum derives from the Algonquian language term aposômo· or apsáwam, via early English explorations of North American fauna. The spelling was influenced by the French opossom and the Latinized form didelphus, capturing its two-mammary (didelphous) characteristics. In 17th–18th century English texts, both 'opossum' and 'possums' appear, with 'possum' colloquially used in American English. The species Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the primary North American representative, while the term opossum in Australian usage refers to a different group of possums (family Phalangeridae). Over time, the term broadened in popular use to describe the animal and, in informal American speech, to refer to the native marsupial irrespective of exact genus.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Opossum" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Opossum"
-som sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as o-PO-sum with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US: oʊˈpoʊsəm. UK/AU tends to reduce the first vowel to a schwa and place stress on the second syllable: əˈpɒsəm. The final 'm' is a light, unreleased bilabial nasal. You’ll often hear the variation 'opossum' (without the initial o-glide) in casual speech. For reference, listen to Forvo or Pronounce and note the second-syllable emphasis in North American speech. IPA targets: oʊ + ˈpoʊ + səm.
Common errors include misplacing stress as on the first syllable (OP-o-sum) and mispronouncing the middle vowel as a short /ɒ/ in American contexts. Some speakers pronounce it with an extra syllable (o-po-suhm) or collapse to 'possum' with inconsistent vowel quality. Correction tips: rehearse the two-keybeat pattern: oʊ (glide) + ˈpoʊ (core) + səm; keep the middle vowel rounded and the final syllable light and nasal. Practice with minimal pairs to fix vowel quality and stress.
In US English, stress on the second syllable with a long o in the first and second syllables: oʊˈpoʊsəm. UK/AU accents often reduce the first vowel to a schwa and can show less diphthongal movement: əˈpɒsəm. The final syllable tends to be a light, unreleased m. Regional rhoticity variations can affect whether the 'r' is heard in surrounding phrases, but 'opossum' remains non-rhotic in most British varieties.
The difficulty stems from the two-syllable rhythm and the mid-word vowel moves, especially the long /oʊ/ glide in the first syllable and the /oʊ/ to /oʊ/ across syllables, plus the light final /m/. The middle syllable requires a strong, crisp /poʊ/ with an implied 'p' release. For learners, coordinating tongue position for the diphthongs and maintaining a clear final nasal is challenging. Practice with targeted minimal pairs and a slow pace.
A unique feature is the near-silent nature of the first vowel in many British/Australian variants, leaning toward a schwa, which changes perceived vowel height between US and UK/AU. Another notable point is the aspirated or unaspirated 'p' depending on sentence position and emphasis; keep the /p/ crisp but not overarticulated to avoid overemphasis on syllable four. Understanding the melody helps mapping to IPA: əˈpɒsəm (UK) vs oʊˈpoʊsəm (US).
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