Is octopi grammatically correct?

Grammatically speaking, the plural for octopus is octopuses. As the Merriam-Webster dictionary points out, people use three different terms, however: octopi, octopuses, and octopodes. While “octopi” has become popular in modern usage, it's wrong.

Why is octopi wrong?

While “octopi” has become popular in modern usage, it's wrong. Octopi is the oldest plural form of octopus, coming from the belief that Latin origins should have Latin endings. However, octopus is not a simple Latin word, but a Latinized form of the Greek word októpus.

Is octopi the correct plural?

The three plurals for octopus come from the different ways the English language adopts plurals. Octopi is the oldest plural of octopus, coming from the belief that words of Latin origin should have Latin endings. Octopuses was the next plural, giving the word an English ending to match its adoption as an English word.

Which is correct octopuses or octopi?

Merriam-Webster notes that this plural emerged later in the nineteenth century, and has the attached -es ending to follow the English formation of plurals. There you have it: The most commonly accepted plural usage for octopus is octopuses. Correct: The clever octopuses snuck out of their tank at night.

When did octopi become octopuses?

When “octopus” was first mentioned in the English language in the mid-1700s, it was pluralized as “octopuses.” That said, some grammarians wanted English to be like the less irregular Latin language, so they started putting Latin pluralizations on Latin-based English words, which led to “octopi.”

What is the plural of Octopus?

What is Moose plural?

Despite what a certain honking bird whose singular form rhymes with that of "moose" might suggest, the plural of "moose" is not "meese." It's just "moose." One moose, three moose, a herd of moose.

What's an octopi?

oc·to·pi. (ŏk′tə-pī′) n. A plural of octopus.

What is the plural of squid?

squid /ˈskwɪd/ noun. plural squid or squids. squid. /ˈskwɪd/ noun.

What is the plural of octopus Oxford dictionary?

The Oxford English Dictionary lists octopuses, octopi, and octopodes (the order reflecting decreasing frequency of use), stating that the last form is rare. The online Oxford dictionary states that the standard plural is octopuses, that octopodes is still occasionally used, and that octopi is incorrect.

What is the correct plural of platypus?

Some English speakers use platypi as the plural for platypus, but that is far less common than platypuses.

Why is there no plural for sheep?

The reason "sheep" doesn't have a separate plural form is by chance. The Old English word for "sheep" (sceap) belonged to a set of nouns whose plural forms, for reasons of phonological expediency, became identical to their singular forms early on in the language's history.

What is the plural of Fox?

¹ fox /ˈfɑːks/ noun. plural foxes.

What is plural for rhinoceros?

noun. rhi·​noc·​er·​os | \ rī-ˈnäs-rəs , rə-, -ˈnä-sə- \ plural rhinoceroses also rhinoceros or rhinoceri\ rī-​ˈnä-​sə-​ˌrī , rə-​ \

What's the plural of hippopotamus?

hippopotamus. noun. hip·​po·​pot·​a·​mus | \ ˌhi-pə-ˈpä-tə-məs \ plural hippopotamuses or hippopotami\ -​ˌmī \

What's the plural of cactus?

noun. cac·​tus | \ ˈkak-təs \ plural cacti\ ˈkak-​ˌtī , -​(ˌ)tē \ or cactuses also cactus.

What is sheep plural?

sheep. / (ʃiːp) / noun plural sheep.

What is the plural for shrimp?

noun. \ ˈshrimp , especially Southern ˈsrimp \ plural shrimp or shrimps.

What is the plural of tuna?

noun (1) tu·​na | \ ˈtü-nə , ˈtyü- \ plural tuna or tunas.

What is a bunch of octopus called?

Grammatically speaking, the plural for octopus is octopuses. As the Merriam-Webster dictionary points out, people use three different terms, however: octopi, octopuses, and octopodes. While “octopi” has become popular in modern usage, it's wrong.

What is a plural form?

The plural form of a word is the form that is used when referring to more than one person or thing. "Data" is the Latin plural form of "datum." countable noun. The plural of a noun is the form of it that is used to refer to more than one person or thing.

What is the plural of goose?

¹ goose /ˈguːs/ noun. plural geese /ˈgiːs/

Why is goose plural geese?

Goose has Germanic roots and comes from the Old English word gōs. That means goose had been around for a long, long time before moose came along. Old English was used from around 450 CE to 1150 CE. It also means that goose was given its plural form based on the Old English rules for creating plurals.

What's the plural of giraffe?

noun. gi·​raffe | \ jə-ˈraf \ plural giraffes.

What is the plural of trout?

noun, plural (especially collectively) trout, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) trouts.

What is the plural of kangaroo?

noun. kan·​ga·​roo | \ ˌkaŋ-gə-ˈrü \ plural kangaroos.