Linguistic difference between "poo" vs. "poop"
September 29, 2023 9:26 PM Subscribe
Is there a definitional difference between "poo" and "poop"? Seeking evidence-based linguistic answers.
I can't believe I'm asking this, but here we go.
My boyfriend insists that "poo" and "poop" mean slightly different quality of f(a)eces. To him, "poo" is diarrhea (6~7 on the Bristol stool scale), whereas "poop" is the more solid variety (1~5 on the scale).
I have literally never heard of this distinction before. Does it really exist or is it just him? How can I find out?
This is what I've found so far:
- This blog article cites the BBC as claiming that "poop" is more American whereas "poo" is more British. The blog article continues on to debunk the notion.
- According to the OED, "poo" is a variant of "pooh". For "poop", the OED lists six different definitions for the noun form -- none of which are related to execrement. My target definition only comes up in verb form, "to poop," meaning to defecate. So, it seems like there really may be some difference in usage between "poo" and "poop," though it's not the distinction that my boyfriend draws?
How else could I find out whether or not there is a distinction between these two words?
Also, I can't help but wonder if there is regional variation. FWIW, my boyfriend is from the east coast of the US, whereas I grew up primarily in western Canada but have lived abroad recently.
I can't believe I'm asking this, but here we go.
My boyfriend insists that "poo" and "poop" mean slightly different quality of f(a)eces. To him, "poo" is diarrhea (6~7 on the Bristol stool scale), whereas "poop" is the more solid variety (1~5 on the scale).
I have literally never heard of this distinction before. Does it really exist or is it just him? How can I find out?
This is what I've found so far:
- This blog article cites the BBC as claiming that "poop" is more American whereas "poo" is more British. The blog article continues on to debunk the notion.
- According to the OED, "poo" is a variant of "pooh". For "poop", the OED lists six different definitions for the noun form -- none of which are related to execrement. My target definition only comes up in verb form, "to poop," meaning to defecate. So, it seems like there really may be some difference in usage between "poo" and "poop," though it's not the distinction that my boyfriend draws?
How else could I find out whether or not there is a distinction between these two words?
Also, I can't help but wonder if there is regional variation. FWIW, my boyfriend is from the east coast of the US, whereas I grew up primarily in western Canada but have lived abroad recently.
Based on my international workplace experience, “poo” is just British for “poop.” It doesn’t imply any different kind of poop.
posted by Miko at 9:51 PM on September 29, 2023 [18 favorites]
posted by Miko at 9:51 PM on September 29, 2023 [18 favorites]
I have literally never heard of this distinction before. Does it really exist or is it just him?
I've never heard of this distinction, either.
A possibly relevant linguistic phenomenon: Even if they start as perfect synonyms, no two words will be experienced in exactly the same contexts, which can lead to them acquiring different connotations (and meanings) over time. This reanalysis starts with individual people, so sometimes you have people coming up with idiosyncratic, kooky definitions that leave the rest of us scratching our heads. I'm not saying that's what's going on here, but it's not all that surprising to me when someone tells me they have an unusual distinction between two synonyms.
How can I find out?
The state-of-the-art documentation of word meanings will be any major dictionary (such as Oxford), which you've already checked. There aren't other, better sources out there. Of course, dictionaries often don't include newer usages, dialectal usages, etc.
So really, the best way to find out would be a survey of a representative sample of English speakers. You're kind of doing that informally here but if you suspect it's a dialectal feature then you probably want to make sure you're hearing from a lot of people from the east coast. This won't get you any reliable information on prevalance, but if all you're looking for is simple confirmation that's where you could start.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 10:48 PM on September 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
I've never heard of this distinction, either.
A possibly relevant linguistic phenomenon: Even if they start as perfect synonyms, no two words will be experienced in exactly the same contexts, which can lead to them acquiring different connotations (and meanings) over time. This reanalysis starts with individual people, so sometimes you have people coming up with idiosyncratic, kooky definitions that leave the rest of us scratching our heads. I'm not saying that's what's going on here, but it's not all that surprising to me when someone tells me they have an unusual distinction between two synonyms.
How can I find out?
The state-of-the-art documentation of word meanings will be any major dictionary (such as Oxford), which you've already checked. There aren't other, better sources out there. Of course, dictionaries often don't include newer usages, dialectal usages, etc.
So really, the best way to find out would be a survey of a representative sample of English speakers. You're kind of doing that informally here but if you suspect it's a dialectal feature then you probably want to make sure you're hearing from a lot of people from the east coast. This won't get you any reliable information on prevalance, but if all you're looking for is simple confirmation that's where you could start.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 10:48 PM on September 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
How else could I find out whether or not there is a distinction between these two words?
Just accept that there is, when conversing directly with your boyfriend.
Whether or not the same distinction is in regular use by anybody other than your boyfriend and possibly his immediate family will become apparent to you over time. I'd be surprised to learn that it is, but that won't diminish your ability to react appropriately to whatever he's telling you has just filled his shorts after he's over-trusted a drunken fart.
posted by flabdablet at 11:59 PM on September 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
Just accept that there is, when conversing directly with your boyfriend.
Whether or not the same distinction is in regular use by anybody other than your boyfriend and possibly his immediate family will become apparent to you over time. I'd be surprised to learn that it is, but that won't diminish your ability to react appropriately to whatever he's telling you has just filled his shorts after he's over-trusted a drunken fart.
posted by flabdablet at 11:59 PM on September 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
In the UK, "poo" is the child-friendly word for all kinds of poo/poop. We didn't start hearing about "poop" until US media got so ubiquitous, and I don't think many British people would say "poop" at all.
posted by quacks like a duck at 12:11 AM on September 30, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by quacks like a duck at 12:11 AM on September 30, 2023 [9 favorites]
If I were trying to get to the bottom of this* linguistically, I think I'd look at three things.
1.) Do English speakers bring connotations--imagery or sensory judgements beyond a word's explicit meaning--to words whose ending sound is a consonant vs. vowel, especially doubled vowels or two vowel sounds? There's probably some academic exploration of why, for instance, "boa" connotes to me something softer than "snake." Do the words money and moolah bring different images to your mind than the consonant-heavy words cash, luchre, bucks?
2.) Is the word poo is descended from romantic language roots vs. poop from Germanic? Or maybe from Latin vs. Greek? I think current day English speakers have different relationships or bring judgements to words descended from one vs. the other.
3.) And maybe most persuasive to me... Vowels are open mouthed sounds. Plosives ("p" is one) and fricatives are made with a closed mouth. Open mouthed sounds don't close off on their own. You can say the word poooooo for as long as you have breath. The word poop ends definitely with that second plosive "p." Therefore something that goes on and on is looser and more formless by definition. Something that ends has more form or shape.
*See what I did there? Also, autocorrect wants to change the word vowel to bowel so this was particularly fun to write. And now I'm wondering if those two words are related because v and b are in other languages often interchangeable sounds.
posted by cocoagirl at 12:20 AM on September 30, 2023 [10 favorites]
1.) Do English speakers bring connotations--imagery or sensory judgements beyond a word's explicit meaning--to words whose ending sound is a consonant vs. vowel, especially doubled vowels or two vowel sounds? There's probably some academic exploration of why, for instance, "boa" connotes to me something softer than "snake." Do the words money and moolah bring different images to your mind than the consonant-heavy words cash, luchre, bucks?
2.) Is the word poo is descended from romantic language roots vs. poop from Germanic? Or maybe from Latin vs. Greek? I think current day English speakers have different relationships or bring judgements to words descended from one vs. the other.
3.) And maybe most persuasive to me... Vowels are open mouthed sounds. Plosives ("p" is one) and fricatives are made with a closed mouth. Open mouthed sounds don't close off on their own. You can say the word poooooo for as long as you have breath. The word poop ends definitely with that second plosive "p." Therefore something that goes on and on is looser and more formless by definition. Something that ends has more form or shape.
*See what I did there? Also, autocorrect wants to change the word vowel to bowel so this was particularly fun to write. And now I'm wondering if those two words are related because v and b are in other languages often interchangeable sounds.
posted by cocoagirl at 12:20 AM on September 30, 2023 [10 favorites]
Phonetically, "poo" sort of trails off, while "poop" has a definite beginning and end.
posted by pracowity at 12:22 AM on September 30, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by pracowity at 12:22 AM on September 30, 2023 [9 favorites]
Yeah whatever the origins, poo is used in the UK, poop in the US. There is obviously cultural cross over, but as a Brit I have only ever heard poop from Americans
posted by Cannon Fodder at 12:31 AM on September 30, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by Cannon Fodder at 12:31 AM on September 30, 2023 [4 favorites]
This could be a question for a doctor or nurse, since a patient may use different terms when describing diarrhea and constipation. Poo, pooh and poop are more in line with what a child or parent would say.
Personally I have never heard of a distinction between poo and poop, either for pets or people.
posted by TrishaU at 1:40 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Personally I have never heard of a distinction between poo and poop, either for pets or people.
posted by TrishaU at 1:40 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
as a Brit I have only ever heard poop from Americans
That's harsh.
posted by flabdablet at 1:40 AM on September 30, 2023 [44 favorites]
That's harsh.
posted by flabdablet at 1:40 AM on September 30, 2023 [44 favorites]
Depends on how many plates of beans were eaten. A p per plate?
posted by sammyo at 1:46 AM on September 30, 2023
posted by sammyo at 1:46 AM on September 30, 2023
> Just accept that there is, when conversing directly with your boyfriend.
I think flabdablet has it. These are topics you end up discussing endlessly and in fairly great depth with small children. But then the topics (and words used) are pretty much taboo among adults or, generally, outside the family at all.
End result is, you get a wide variety of words and meanings used, not just regionally or geographically, but family by family. I know this just anecdotally from when we had small children and were exchanging babysitting etc a lot. The words different families used for various bodily functions and parts were sometimes kinda mind-boggling. But outside this specific kind of context, you would never know what words any of your neighbors or adult friends were using to discuss these concepts with their small children or generally within their family unit.
You asked for evidence-based answers and I thought that - pee-pee and poo-poo being topics of absolutely universal interest - there would be all sorts of research into what vocabulary words parents & small children use in talking about these various bodily parts and functions. But I spent a fair while searching and came up practically empty-handed, which is quite unusual. Either the topic really is considered too taboo or sensitive to study, or I didn't figure out the right search keywords.
I did find these few interesting bits of research that I believe do back up pretty well the points flabdablet & I made above:
- Preschoolers' Anatomical Knowledge of Salient and Non-Salient Sexual and Non-Sexual Body Parts: "Preschoolers demonstrated greater anatomical knowledge of salient than non-salient body parts, and girls had a higher level of knowledge than boys. Most boys and girls used slang terms to label sexual body parts or declared they did not know the names."
- Sex differences in the naming of children's genitalia: "39.8% of males and 29% of females learned correct anatomical names for male genitalia as children. In contrast, only 6.1% of females and 17.7% of males learned correct names for female genitalia. Most respondents learned either euphemisms or no names for female genitalia as children. Whereas male respondents acquired a complete vocabulary for male genitalia by a mean age of 11.5 years, female respondents did not complete their anatomical vocabulary for female genitalia until a mean age of 15.6 years. The importance of recognizing that children have erotic experiences and that they need a vocabulary for describing their feelings is discussed." [NB: This study is from 1984, so we can hope this situation has improved some. But by all the gods, what is wrong with people? Do they really think if they don't name something it will just cease to exist? Follow-up on this topic:A 2021 study from Iran showing much the same results; a more extensive 2023 study from Finland showing no significant difference by gender]
- Children's Language of Sexuality in Child Sexual Abuse Investigations: A Brief Report: "The analyses indicated that 37 different words and phrases were used to describe private body parts. . . . Younger children used a wider range of words than older children to clarify sexual body parts and sexual activities. In general, children's choice of words can imply various meanings and the interviewer cannot assume the meaning of certain slang terms without clarifying them."
- ENGLISH EUPHEMISM AS USED BY NATIVE SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH AND OF THAI: The author identifies euphemisms used for various body parts and topics. The lists of euphemisms is, unfortunately, not very extensive. The main point for our purposes is that there is indeed a fair bit of variation in preferred euphemisms among the two different groups studied.
- The Bathroom Formula: A corpus-based study of a speech act in American and British English: "This paper is a corpus-based study of the Bathroom Formula, a speech act that refers to the phrases speakers use to express their need to leave any ongoing activity in order to go to the bathroom . . . . The results show that a large majority of all instances are based on a small number of lexicalized sentence stems . . . . It is argued that the lack of creativity is connected to ease of comprehension and production and to speakers’ wish to be unobtrusive. Apart from some lexical differences between the regional varieties (e.g., AmE bathroom and BrE loo) there was little sociolinguistic variation."
The point of the first four references is that there is a very wide variety of words and specific meanings that kids learn via their families for these sexual and excretory topics. They are going to be very slang-y and often quite idiosyncratic in both their specific uses and meanings. Interestingly, the younger the kids the more the variation. As the one study notes, "children's choice of words can imply various meanings and the interviewer cannot assume the meaning of certain slang terms without clarifying them."
On the other hand, the point of the last study is that all that wonderful (!?) variety flattens right down to nothing when we talk with other adults in public settings. All the detail we get is some minor variation of "Gotta go to the bathroom." "Ok."
So, don't be surprised when you are let into the private bathroom and bodily function world of another adult, that their specific vocabulary and ways of thinking and talking about such things is, indeed, quite idiosyncratic.
posted by flug at 1:47 AM on September 30, 2023 [11 favorites]
I think flabdablet has it. These are topics you end up discussing endlessly and in fairly great depth with small children. But then the topics (and words used) are pretty much taboo among adults or, generally, outside the family at all.
End result is, you get a wide variety of words and meanings used, not just regionally or geographically, but family by family. I know this just anecdotally from when we had small children and were exchanging babysitting etc a lot. The words different families used for various bodily functions and parts were sometimes kinda mind-boggling. But outside this specific kind of context, you would never know what words any of your neighbors or adult friends were using to discuss these concepts with their small children or generally within their family unit.
You asked for evidence-based answers and I thought that - pee-pee and poo-poo being topics of absolutely universal interest - there would be all sorts of research into what vocabulary words parents & small children use in talking about these various bodily parts and functions. But I spent a fair while searching and came up practically empty-handed, which is quite unusual. Either the topic really is considered too taboo or sensitive to study, or I didn't figure out the right search keywords.
I did find these few interesting bits of research that I believe do back up pretty well the points flabdablet & I made above:
- Preschoolers' Anatomical Knowledge of Salient and Non-Salient Sexual and Non-Sexual Body Parts: "Preschoolers demonstrated greater anatomical knowledge of salient than non-salient body parts, and girls had a higher level of knowledge than boys. Most boys and girls used slang terms to label sexual body parts or declared they did not know the names."
- Sex differences in the naming of children's genitalia: "39.8% of males and 29% of females learned correct anatomical names for male genitalia as children. In contrast, only 6.1% of females and 17.7% of males learned correct names for female genitalia. Most respondents learned either euphemisms or no names for female genitalia as children. Whereas male respondents acquired a complete vocabulary for male genitalia by a mean age of 11.5 years, female respondents did not complete their anatomical vocabulary for female genitalia until a mean age of 15.6 years. The importance of recognizing that children have erotic experiences and that they need a vocabulary for describing their feelings is discussed." [NB: This study is from 1984, so we can hope this situation has improved some. But by all the gods, what is wrong with people? Do they really think if they don't name something it will just cease to exist? Follow-up on this topic:A 2021 study from Iran showing much the same results; a more extensive 2023 study from Finland showing no significant difference by gender]
- Children's Language of Sexuality in Child Sexual Abuse Investigations: A Brief Report: "The analyses indicated that 37 different words and phrases were used to describe private body parts. . . . Younger children used a wider range of words than older children to clarify sexual body parts and sexual activities. In general, children's choice of words can imply various meanings and the interviewer cannot assume the meaning of certain slang terms without clarifying them."
- ENGLISH EUPHEMISM AS USED BY NATIVE SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH AND OF THAI: The author identifies euphemisms used for various body parts and topics. The lists of euphemisms is, unfortunately, not very extensive. The main point for our purposes is that there is indeed a fair bit of variation in preferred euphemisms among the two different groups studied.
- The Bathroom Formula: A corpus-based study of a speech act in American and British English: "This paper is a corpus-based study of the Bathroom Formula, a speech act that refers to the phrases speakers use to express their need to leave any ongoing activity in order to go to the bathroom . . . . The results show that a large majority of all instances are based on a small number of lexicalized sentence stems . . . . It is argued that the lack of creativity is connected to ease of comprehension and production and to speakers’ wish to be unobtrusive. Apart from some lexical differences between the regional varieties (e.g., AmE bathroom and BrE loo) there was little sociolinguistic variation."
The point of the first four references is that there is a very wide variety of words and specific meanings that kids learn via their families for these sexual and excretory topics. They are going to be very slang-y and often quite idiosyncratic in both their specific uses and meanings. Interestingly, the younger the kids the more the variation. As the one study notes, "children's choice of words can imply various meanings and the interviewer cannot assume the meaning of certain slang terms without clarifying them."
On the other hand, the point of the last study is that all that wonderful (!?) variety flattens right down to nothing when we talk with other adults in public settings. All the detail we get is some minor variation of "Gotta go to the bathroom." "Ok."
So, don't be surprised when you are let into the private bathroom and bodily function world of another adult, that their specific vocabulary and ways of thinking and talking about such things is, indeed, quite idiosyncratic.
posted by flug at 1:47 AM on September 30, 2023 [11 favorites]
I’m from the NE US and I have never heard this. “Poo” sounds more childish — maybe babyish?
Ah that’s interesting - I’m from the UK and to me poop sounds babyish (and also very American), while poo sound like a fairly neutral word.
posted by penguin pie at 3:33 AM on September 30, 2023 [4 favorites]
Ah that’s interesting - I’m from the UK and to me poop sounds babyish (and also very American), while poo sound like a fairly neutral word.
posted by penguin pie at 3:33 AM on September 30, 2023 [4 favorites]
“poop” is American for “poo”.
posted by pompomtom at 4:05 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by pompomtom at 4:05 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think your boyfriend is full of shit
(I couldn’t skip the opportunity)
posted by raccoon409 at 5:15 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
(I couldn’t skip the opportunity)
posted by raccoon409 at 5:15 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Separated by a Common Language has covered the UK-US difference: poo, poop. She thinks "poo" came to the UK from Australia, and doesn't see much evidence of the word in the UK before the 1980s, though at least one person in the comments disagrees.
posted by paduasoy at 5:22 AM on September 30, 2023
posted by paduasoy at 5:22 AM on September 30, 2023
I've never heard any kind of distinction like your boyfriend is describing.
He wants evidence-based? Okay hot shot.
Tell me why a poop emoji looks like this.
And Mr Hankey the Christmas Poo looks like this.
posted by phunniemee at 5:25 AM on September 30, 2023 [7 favorites]
He wants evidence-based? Okay hot shot.
Tell me why a poop emoji looks like this.
And Mr Hankey the Christmas Poo looks like this.
posted by phunniemee at 5:25 AM on September 30, 2023 [7 favorites]
As a datapoint, I use the terms the SAME way as your bf, and it’s solely based on firmness, as poo means anything softer than Bristol 1-3. Until this very moment, I’d assumed this was an enduring universal truth for everyone and now I feel very weird and alone.
posted by mochapickle at 5:27 AM on September 30, 2023 [14 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 5:27 AM on September 30, 2023 [14 favorites]
I am Canadian with a lot of British family influence. I do agree that poo and poop imply different textures of feces.
I don’t think poo = diarrhea but I do agree that poo is soft and messy and smeary. Not all poo is as wet as diarrhea, but it is definitely correct that diarrhea is a kind of poo. Diarrhea is definitely not poop.
Poop is formed and solid, like it could maybe have a chance at rolling away without leaving a mark. Healthy cats and dogs poop. Babies poo. Toddlers poop. Etc.
If one is speaking generally, and thus doesn’t need to specify what texture of poop they’re discussing, then they would say poop because poop is less gross and therefore they’re being a bit more polite.
To be really too vivid: The “p” sound your lips make at the end of the word “poop” symbolizes the butthole closing and cutting it off neatly.
(I have always thought the poop emoji is mis-named and is a poo emoji.
And Mr Hanky is also misnamed. He is a poop, not a poo.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 5:34 AM on September 30, 2023 [6 favorites]
I don’t think poo = diarrhea but I do agree that poo is soft and messy and smeary. Not all poo is as wet as diarrhea, but it is definitely correct that diarrhea is a kind of poo. Diarrhea is definitely not poop.
Poop is formed and solid, like it could maybe have a chance at rolling away without leaving a mark. Healthy cats and dogs poop. Babies poo. Toddlers poop. Etc.
If one is speaking generally, and thus doesn’t need to specify what texture of poop they’re discussing, then they would say poop because poop is less gross and therefore they’re being a bit more polite.
To be really too vivid: The “p” sound your lips make at the end of the word “poop” symbolizes the butthole closing and cutting it off neatly.
(I have always thought the poop emoji is mis-named and is a poo emoji.
And Mr Hanky is also misnamed. He is a poop, not a poo.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 5:34 AM on September 30, 2023 [6 favorites]
I feel seen, nouvelle-personne. Thank you.
posted by mochapickle at 5:43 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by mochapickle at 5:43 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
This was an actual advert for Glade air freshener in 2009 in the UK: “I want to do a poo at Paul's”
The official Unicode name for 💩 is “PILE OF POO”. No terminal p.
posted by scruss at 6:13 AM on September 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
The official Unicode name for 💩 is “PILE OF POO”. No terminal p.
posted by scruss at 6:13 AM on September 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
Interesting. it's definitely "pile of poop" if you hover over it in the macOS emoji picker (shortcut: press the globe/function key on the bottom left of the keyboard.
posted by emelenjr at 7:33 AM on September 30, 2023
posted by emelenjr at 7:33 AM on September 30, 2023
My experience has been that "poop" is a slightly more polite way of saying "poo" (I'm in the U.S.), perhaps because "poo" is more associated with child-talk. But after reading this query, I'm thinking it's also because of the, erm, distinction in firmness suggested by the two variations as pracowity points out.
It's perhaps been unconscious, but I will say "poop" in mixed company but "poo" among friends or if I'm trying to be jaunty. Which makes it sound like I use this word a lot more than I do...
posted by Ms. Toad at 7:36 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
It's perhaps been unconscious, but I will say "poop" in mixed company but "poo" among friends or if I'm trying to be jaunty. Which makes it sound like I use this word a lot more than I do...
posted by Ms. Toad at 7:36 AM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
For me, the words are basically interchangeable, but there is a slight difference in how I use them, and the solidity of the fecal matter has nothing to do with it - I don't think I've ever heard them used that way. It's more like "poo" is more on the verb end of things, while the physical object is a "poop". So like, "I have/had to poo" or "I have to do a poo" vs "watch out for the dog poop" or "there was already a poop in the toilet" kind of thing. Adding a gerund for the present participle of the verb reverts it to "pooping" however. People not using them in that way wouldn't strike me as strange, but I think most people I know do. Born/raised in Southern California for location reference.
posted by LionIndex at 8:53 AM on September 30, 2023
posted by LionIndex at 8:53 AM on September 30, 2023
This was an actual advert for Glade air freshener
Brand message: "Are you a mom who can't provide a home your kids feel comfortable poo(p)ing in?"
posted by zippy at 9:36 AM on September 30, 2023
Brand message: "Are you a mom who can't provide a home your kids feel comfortable poo(p)ing in?"
posted by zippy at 9:36 AM on September 30, 2023
Merriam Webster has entries for both, with examples. Poo definitely has examples penned by Americans.
When it comes to an "evidence based" approach on fine distinctions, like firmness, the standard lexicographer's approach is to deal with written language, and I don't think "poo" and "poop" are used with enough frequency and rigor in literature that they'll be able to assign anything. This is more like a serious research problem for a linguist looking at oral usage across a wide variety of regions and (if possible) time. Which is another way of saying this probably doesn't exist.
FWIW my personal experience as an American, I agree with comments both that poo is the childish version and the verbier version. ("I need to poo" but "I need to take a poop". I can, however, metaphorically "Poop all over something.") I've never encountered usage that would make me think there was a quality difference.
posted by mark k at 10:12 AM on September 30, 2023
When it comes to an "evidence based" approach on fine distinctions, like firmness, the standard lexicographer's approach is to deal with written language, and I don't think "poo" and "poop" are used with enough frequency and rigor in literature that they'll be able to assign anything. This is more like a serious research problem for a linguist looking at oral usage across a wide variety of regions and (if possible) time. Which is another way of saying this probably doesn't exist.
FWIW my personal experience as an American, I agree with comments both that poo is the childish version and the verbier version. ("I need to poo" but "I need to take a poop". I can, however, metaphorically "Poop all over something.") I've never encountered usage that would make me think there was a quality difference.
posted by mark k at 10:12 AM on September 30, 2023
→
Apple don't set the rules, the Unicode Consortium does. And they definitely use poo: Full Emoji List, v15.1 (a very slow-loading page)
posted by scruss at 10:43 AM on September 30, 2023
it's definitely "pile of poop" if you hover over it in the macOS emoji picker
Apple don't set the rules, the Unicode Consortium does. And they definitely use poo: Full Emoji List, v15.1 (a very slow-loading page)
posted by scruss at 10:43 AM on September 30, 2023
The Unicode Consortium sets rules on emojis, but not on the English language.
In fact, given that they labelled it one way and then a person/people at Apple decided it needed correcting means something. I have no idea what that something is, or how to figure out what it is. But it means something.
posted by mark k at 11:42 AM on September 30, 2023
In fact, given that they labelled it one way and then a person/people at Apple decided it needed correcting means something. I have no idea what that something is, or how to figure out what it is. But it means something.
posted by mark k at 11:42 AM on September 30, 2023
I think this is idiosyncratic, but maybe to your bf, “poo” speaks to the general class of poo, or to a collective or mass of poo (which suggests the poo would be ill-defined in form), or refers to the verb form (“to poo”), which may suggest activity within the noun form of the poo itself if used as a noun (perhaps again less definition to the physical mass), whereas “poop” is a single instance of “poo”. I think as a Canadian, I’d probably say “Oh look there’s a poop on the ground” if referring to a solid torpedo, vs “check out the poo that dog owner left on the grass” (or if I said the latter there would def be a big messy pile of it).
Mostly though I think it’s just your bf.
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:53 AM on September 30, 2023
Mostly though I think it’s just your bf.
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:53 AM on September 30, 2023
In UK usage "poo" can be a countable noun, and a specific turd laid by a dog is definitely "a poo". We say "poo bags" for the bags you take on a dog walk. A small child of my acquaintance dragged people excitedly to the potty to say "Look, three poos! Mummy Poo, Daddy Poo and Little Baby Poo!" and nobody found this grammatically unusual.
I guess it's it not surprising that the word changed meaning on its travels, given that you already have a perfectly good NorAm word for countable poo.
posted by quacks like a duck at 12:17 PM on September 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
I guess it's it not surprising that the word changed meaning on its travels, given that you already have a perfectly good NorAm word for countable poo.
posted by quacks like a duck at 12:17 PM on September 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
Poop is outside of a toilet, poo is inside. I feel insane now
posted by Francies at 7:25 PM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Francies at 7:25 PM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
I use both words interchangeably and recognize that they literally mean the same thing, but my default mental image of "poo" is squishy and "poop" is more solid, presumably because of the aforementioned plosive quality of the terminal consonant.
If it matters, I grew up in Canada with UK interludes, live in the US, and my husband/constant conversation partner's speech is British/Australian, so my vocabulary isn't regionally specific.
posted by tangerine at 2:10 PM on October 1, 2023
If it matters, I grew up in Canada with UK interludes, live in the US, and my husband/constant conversation partner's speech is British/Australian, so my vocabulary isn't regionally specific.
posted by tangerine at 2:10 PM on October 1, 2023
I decide all things poop and poo mattered as my position as a muckety muck at the pretend bureau. Poop and poo are exactly the same. Poop is a little funnier. Poo is a little cuter.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 3:33 PM on October 1, 2023
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 3:33 PM on October 1, 2023
She thinks "poo" came to the UK from Australia
Again, harsh.
But Rupert Murdoch, tho. So probs fair.
posted by flabdablet at 7:10 AM on October 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
Again, harsh.
But Rupert Murdoch, tho. So probs fair.
posted by flabdablet at 7:10 AM on October 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
What Miko said. Your boyfriend's distinction wouldn't pass muster with my gastroenterologist, who has his patients describe their output in much more specific language.
posted by apartment dweller at 11:57 AM on October 3, 2023
posted by apartment dweller at 11:57 AM on October 3, 2023
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posted by chesty_a_arthur at 9:49 PM on September 29, 2023 [2 favorites]