What is the plural for platypus?

However, given that “platypodes” has for some unfathomable reason never become popular, the dictionary goes on to say that the accepted plural is “platypuses” or (particularly in scientific and conservation contexts) “platypus”.

Is platypi correct?

The plural of platypus has been long-established in the English speaking world as platypuses. The plural form platypi is accepted by Latinists, scientists and fans of quirky words.

What is the correct plural for octopus?

Octopuses
Octopi is the oldest plural of octopus, coming from the belief that Latin origins should have Latin endings. Octopuses is the next plural, which gives the word an English ending to match its adoption as an English word.

Why is the plural of platypus platypuses?

The plural of platypus is platypuses. This is due to the Greek root of the name (“flat foot”). The actual Greek plural for platypus is platypodes, but this isn’t used in English. The suffix “i” as in fungi or cacti is due to a Latin root.

Why is the plural of platypus platypi?

Platypuses or platypi? …. The plural of platypus is platypuses. This is due to the Greek root of the name (“flat foot”). The actual Greek plural for platypus is platypodes, but this isn’t used in English.

Is octopi incorrect?

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 the difference between octopus and octopi?

An octopus is a cephalopod mollusk of the order Octopoda. The word octopi refers to more than one of those animals. Despite its relatively common usage, octopi is an improper plural. Latin words are sometimes pluralized with an -i, but octopus originates from Greek, not Latin.

How do you spell octopus plural?

It is most often spelled ‘octopi’ or ‘octopuses,’ but ‘octopodes’ is also a less-common option. The three main 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 Latin origins should have Latin endings.

Are Octopi and platypi plurals?

Octopi and platypi masquerade as Latin plurals on the false premise that the names are masculine Latin nouns of the second declension, and they are no such thing. The -us at the end is not analogous to the -us in fungus; rather it is part of the suffix -pus which is a Latinization of Greek ποῦς, foot.

What is the plural of platypus?

The plural of octopus is octopodes, and the plural of platypus is platypodes (not a coincidence). If Oedipus has a plural….

Which one is correct octopus or platypus?

Platypuses and octopuses are technically correct because both are not latin words although either is fine. On the other hand, there are some English words that do have correct plurals that end with -i such as hippopotami (hippopotimus) and radii (radius).