Possum

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "possum" is the everyday word for the opossum - a scruffy marsupial known for sneakin’ into henhouses and grinnin’ with a mouth full of teeth.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Animals #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I didn't know 'possum' had a 'o' on the front of it 'til I was full grown. That 'o' is silent pretty much universally around here.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I didn't know 'possum' had a 'o' on the front of it 'til I was full grown. That 'o' is silent pretty much universally around here.

Pronunciation

[PAH-sum] or [POSS-um]

Meaning & Usage

- A marsupial found in North America (noun)

Mae:

Somethin’s been at the henhouse.

Earl:

Just a possum nosin’ around.

variations: opossum, critter, varmint, roadkill, grinnin’ possum (showing all teeth)

★ Possums are famous for their defense trick of keelin’ over and lookin’ dead - which gave rise to the saying "playin’ possum." ★

Origin and Etymology

From the Powhatan word *apasum* (white animal). English settlers shortened "opossum" to "possum," and the clipped form stuck, especially in the South and Appalachia.

Usage Notes

The clipped form "possum" is heard everywhere in the U.S., but it’s especially common in Appalachian and Southern speech. In Australia, "possum" refers to a different animal altogether.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "pah-sum" or "poss-um," never with the "o-."

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "possum" the same as "opossum"?

Yes - in the U.S., "possum" is the everyday form.

Do people still eat possum?

In Appalachia and the South, yes - it was once a survival food, sometimes baked with sweet potatoes.

What about "playin’ possum"?

That’s a separate saying for pretendin’ to be asleep or dead - see our entry here.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 1). Possum. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/possum
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Possum." HillbillySlang.com, 1 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/possum.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Possum." HillbillySlang.com. September 1, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/possum.

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