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A Way with Words

A fun radio show and podcast about language examined through family, history, and culture.

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Counting Time with One Mississippi

Posted by Grant Barrett on October 24, 2016 · Add Comment

A Seattle, Washington, listener wants to know why, when marking time, we say “one Mississippi, two Mississippi,” as opposed to other states or rivers. In the United Kingdom, they’re more likely to say hippopotamus. Some people count instead with the word banana, or Nevada, or one thousand one. Also, a mnemonic for spelling the pesky [...]