• pieguy@lemmy.sdf.org
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    3 months ago

    So this reminds me of something that has bothered me for some time:

    When I say/hear “tummy”, I think it synonymous with “stomach”, yet it is seemingly also used in reference to the general abdominal area (intestines & friends). What gives?

    • nickwitha_k (he/him)@lemmy.sdf.org
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      3 months ago

      If an honest question, I think it’s related to a couple of things. The word “tummy” is a diminutive for “stomach” and is mainly used by and when talking to children. Children are both still developing their nervous systems and learning their bodies. Specific association with sensory nerves is hard in those conditions, so, often it’s instead generalized to the whole abdomen.