gistfile1.py

synonyms = {'scotty': 'dog', 'puppy': 'dog', 'dog': 'dog'}
counts = [(2, 'dog'), (2, 'puppy'), (2, 'scotty')]
syn_counts = []

for count in counts:
  syn_counts.append((count[0], synonyms[count[1]]))

print syn_counts

sum_counts = {}
for syn_count in syn_counts:
  try:
    sum_counts[syn_count[1]] += syn_count[0]
  except:
    sum_counts[syn_count[1]] = syn_count[0]

print sum_counts