FAQ
A contribution of The Cephalopod Page
| Question: |
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| Why 'octopuses' instead of 'octopi', 'octopodes' or 'dem theayr things'? |
| Answer: |
| While much of the following information is covered in the 'Octopus on Ice' article, it makes sense to repeat it here, as this is a frequent question. Beside, Rodger did a great job explaining why 'octopuses' is the preferred English plural.
I found your very pleasant cephalopod page via Altavista, and read the note on 'what is the plural of 'octopus'?' You give the three plural forms commonly heard, but since you didn't explain what distinguishes them and where they came from, let me put on my pedantic hat and give a brief lecture: ==begin pedanticism== The word 'octopus' is derived from Greek 'oktopous', which is formed from 'octo-' meaning 'eight' and 'pous' meaning 'foot.' The *Greek* plural of 'pous' is (roughly) 'podes' and we see this form in such English words as podiatrist. (The real Greek root or combining form is really 'pod-' IOW.) Thus the *Greek* plural of 'octopus' is 'octopodes.' This is the 'correct' English plural if you want to be pedantic and think that English should adopt plurals along with words adopted from other languages (as Hebrew 'seraphim' as a plural for 'seraph'). 'Octopi' is all wrong: it mistakes the -us ending for a *Latin* termination and the word isn't derived from Latin at all. If one is going to adopt foreign language plural forms, at least get the language right! Personally I prefer the plain English 'octopuses' formed according to the normal rules for plurals in English that we all learned in grade two: add 's' unless the word ends in 's', in which case add 'es.' ==end pedanticism== Consider yourself lectured. Pedantically and cephalopodistically yours, sir, I remain Rodger Whitlock |