Learn How to Pronounce opossum
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How to pronounce:
opossum
Definition:
(nou) small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long usually prehensile tails (nou) nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail found from southern North America to northern South America
Examples:
The opossum shrimp is of enormous economic value to the bay.
New species of night monkey, porcupine and shrew opossum found in Peru.
That is my opossum photo on the opossum page.
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Common mistakes of opossum pronunciation
- Misplacing the stress: Many people incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "o-POSS-um" instead of the correct "o-POS-sum" (/əˈpɑsəm/ in US English, /əˈpɒsəm/ in UK English). Tip: Focus on placing the primary stress on the second syllable.
- Ignoring the initial vowel: Some may pronounce "opossum" with a strong "o" as in "go," resulting in "OH-poss-um." The correct pronunciation starts with a schwa sound, "uh" (/əˈpɑsəm/). Tip: Practice starting with a softer, more neutral "uh" sound.
- Overemphasizing the "p": People often pronounce the "p" in "opossum" too strongly, leading to "p-ossum." The "p" is subtle and should blend into the first syllable (/əˈpɑsəm/). Tip: Try saying the word slowly to ensure the "p" is light.
- Mispronouncing the final "m": Some may pronounce the last syllable as "um" with a clear "u," making it sound like "o-poss-uhm." The correct ending is a softer "m" sound (/əˈpɑsəm/). Tip: Focus on making the last syllable short and smooth.
- Confusing with other animals: People sometimes mix up "opossum" with similar-sounding animals like "possum." Remember that "opossum" has the "o" at the beginning, while "possum" does not. Tip: Visualize the "o" in "opossum" to differentiate it from "possum."