Is the O silent in the word opossum?
The O in “opossum” is spelled but not pronounced. It is a silent letter, just like the H in the word “honest.” The articles “a” and “an” are correctly based on the first pronounced letter, not simply the first letter.
How is opossum pronounced?
Opossum, pronounced uh-poss-uhm, is still favored for formal writing.
Why is opossum pronounced possum?
Possums are native to Australia. When English explorers first met the Australian creature, they thought it looked like the North American Opossum. As a result, they called it a possum and recorded the name like North Americans would pronounce it (without the “O“).
Is Possum pronounced or opossum?
In common use, possum is the usual term; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is preferred. Opossum can be pronounced with its first syllable either voiced or silent.