this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The best ones are thoughts that many people can relate to and they find something funny or interesting in regular stuff.

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Tooth doctor doesn't have the same ring as eye doctor (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by half_built_pyramids@lemmy.world to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
14 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Saying eye doctor in a conversation feels normal. Saying tooth doctor feels like listening to someone who had a bad disco elysium roll and they're punching themselves in the face to get the words out.

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[–] theKalash@feddit.ch 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Probably because of the more common word "dentist".

[–] candyman337@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's because it's shorter, eye doctor is slightly shorter and easier to say and spell than opthamologist

[–] theKalash@feddit.ch 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

counterpoint: paediatrician.

[–] TWeaK@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Well you could just shorten it and call them a paedo.

[–] Lemjukes@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago

I think the 'easier to say' part is the key thing here. "Pee-dee-atrition" is a lot easier for most English speakers that "op-tha-mologist". I think the "th" throws people off enough to just say "eye doc"

[–] hardypart@feddit.de 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Funny, because in German it's exactly that: Tooth doctor (Zahnarzt).

[–] EmoDuck@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago

Tierarzt sounds normal but animal doctor sounds weird

[–] theKalash@feddit.ch 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The one that always bothered me is Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Arzt. Why is it Nasen? We only have one. It should either be Hälse-Nasen-Ohren Arzt or Hals-Nase-Ohren-Arzt.

[–] ValiantDust@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

I assume it's for the same reason you say Nasendusche, Nasenrücken or Nasenbluten but Halsschmerzen or Halstuch (though I'm not sure what's the exact grammatical reason). It has nothing to do with the number of noses. I think it would be Augenarzt and not Augearzt even if we had only one eye.

[–] n00b001@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Optician? I've never heard "eye doctor" here in the UK

[–] jameseb@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

Technically a general eye doctor would be an opthalmologist. An optician is someone who makes lenses. The person you see for an eye test at the opticians is an optometrist (someone who measures what strength lenses you need).

[–] Trex202@lemmy.one 3 points 1 year ago

Don't be an anti-dentite

[–] cubedsteaks@lemmy.today 1 points 1 year ago

uh well where I live: https://emergencytoothdoctor.com/

they do in fact take care of emergencies too. They pulled a tooth for me on walk in.

[–] roguetrick@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Dentists and podiatrists don't go to med school in the US.