Foreign Plurals
Foreign plurals come from languages other than English. They often retain the original plural forms of the borrowed words. Here are some common examples:
* Latin:
* -us: *octopus* -> *octopuses* (more common) or *octopodes* (more formal)
* -um: *medium* -> *media* (common for mass media), *mediums* (common for spiritualists)
* -a: *alumna* -> *alumnae* (female graduates), *alumnus* -> *alumni* (male graduates)
* Greek:
* -on: *criterion* -> *criteria*
* -is: *thesis* -> *theses*
* -us: *stimulus* -> *stimuli*
* French:
* -eau: *tableau* -> *tableaux*
* -ieu: *bureau* -> *bureaux* (less common: bureaus)
* Italian:
* -o: *soprano* -> *soprani*
* -a: *persona* -> *personae*
* Spanish:
* -o: *tornado* -> *tornados* (also accepted: tornadoes)
* -a: *fiesta* -> *fiestas*
English Plurals
English plurals are generally formed by adding -s or -es to the singular form. Here are some common rules and exceptions:
* Regular plurals:
* -s: *cat* -> *cats*, *book* -> *books*
* -es: *church* -> *churches*, *box* -> *boxes* (words ending in -ch, -sh, -x, -s, or -z)
* Irregular plurals:
* -en: *child* -> *children*, *ox* -> *oxen*
* -ves: *wife* -> *wives*, *knife* -> *knives*
* vowel change: *man* -> *men*, *tooth* -> *teeth*
* no change: *sheep* -> *sheep*, *deer* -> *deer*
* Words borrowed from other languages:
* Sometimes English plurals are used for words that have foreign plural forms, such as *octopus* -> *octopuses*
Important Notes
* Some words can have both foreign and English plural forms.
* Usage of foreign plurals often depends on context and the specific word.
* Check a dictionary if you're unsure about the correct plural form.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any other questions!