"Joeys" is the plural form of "joey", which refers to a baby kangaroo. The phonetic transcription of "joeys" is /ˈdʒoʊiz/. The spelling of this word can be confusing as it ends in the letter "s", but is pronounced with a "z" sound. This is because the plural form of words ending in "y" preceded by a consonant is formed by changing the "y" to "i" and adding "es". However, when the "y" is preceded by a vowel, only "s" is added to form the plural.
Joeys is the plural form of the word "joey," which refers to the young offspring of marsupial animals, specifically primarily marsupials found in Australia or nearby regions. The term is most commonly associated with kangaroos, wallabies, and some species of possums.
A joey is born underdeveloped and then proceeds to crawl into its mother's pouch, where it latches onto a nipple to continue its growth and development. It remains inside the pouch for an extended period of time until it becomes more independent and develops sufficiently to leave the pouch. During this pouch-dwelling phase, the joey receives the necessary nutrients and protection from its mother.
The word joey is often used colloquially to refer specifically to a baby kangaroo, as kangaroos are among the most recognizable and iconic marsupials. A baby kangaroo, or joey, is typically hairless and blind at birth, weighing only a few grams. As it grows inside the mother's pouch, it undergoes rapid development, including the development of limbs, fur, and sight. Most joeys leave the pouch when they have grown enough to independently forage, but they still occasionally return for comfort and sustenance. The duration of their pouch-dwelling period varies between species, generally ranging from several months to over a year.
In summary, joeys are the juvenile offspring of marsupial animals, often referring to baby kangaroos, that are born underdeveloped and continue their development inside their mother's pouch.
The term "joeys" is derived from the word "joey". "Joey" originated in Australian English and refers to a baby kangaroo, specifically, the stage at which the kangaroo is still in its mother's pouch. The word "joey" is believed to have originated from the Scottish dialectal word "joï" or "joïe", which means a small animal. Over time, the term "joey" has become commonly used in reference to baby kangaroos in Australia and has expanded to other English-speaking countries as well. The plural form "joeys" simply refers to multiple baby kangaroos.