Eight tentacles, three plural forms, and only one right way to say it. ... 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.

What declension is octopus?

The notion that the plural of “octopus” is “octopi” must arise from the fallacy that “octopus” is a Latin noun of the second declension, like “amicus” (friend) — whose nominative plural really is “amici.” But “octopus” is a Greek noun of the third declension. ...

What animal group is octopus?

Octopuses (or octopi, if you prefer) are cephalopods, invertebrates that also include squid and cuttlefish.

Are octopuses octopi?

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.

Is octopus Latin or Greek?

1. Octopuses, Octopi and Octopodes. Since “octopus” ends in a “-us,” most people assume it comes from Latin and spell the plural “octopi.” But this is a false etymology: “Octopus” comes from Greek, so the correct plural would be “octopodes.”

What If Octopuses Are Aliens from Outer Space?

15 related questions found

Is octopus a Latin word?

Octopus is not a simple Latin word of the second declension, but a Latinized form of the Greek word oktopous, and its 'correct' plural would logically be octopodes. Other words ending in -us show a very varied pattern.

Is octopi wrong?

While “octopi” has become popular in modern usage, it's wrong. The letter “i” as a suffix to indicate a plural noun only applies to words with Latin roots, like “cacti” for more than one cactus. But octopus is derived from Greek, so the proper pluralization in this case would be “odes” if it was ever used.

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.

Where did the word octopi come from?

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.”

Why does an octopus have 9 brains?

Octopuses have 3 hearts, because two pump blood to the gills and a larger heart circulates blood to the rest of the body. Octopuses have 9 brains because, in addition to the central brain, each of 8 arms has a mini-brain that allows it to act independently.

Is an octopus a reptile or amphibian?

An octopus is an invertebrate animal, which means it has no spine. More specifically, an octopus is a cephalopod, like squid and cuttlefish. They're some of the smartest invertebrates. Mammals such as giraffes, on the other hand, are vertebrate animals, meaning they have spines.

Why does an octopus have 3 hearts?

2) Octopuses have three hearts. Two of the hearts work exclusively to move blood beyond the animal's gills, while the third keeps circulation flowing for the organs. The organ heart actually stops beating when the octopus swims, explaining the species' penchant for crawling rather than swimming, which exhausts them.

What is Hippo plural?

hippo. Plural. hippos. The plural form of hippo; more than one (kind of) hippo.

What is Moose plural?

See the full definition for moose in the English Language Learners Dictionary. moose. noun. \ ˈmüs \ plural moose.

What is Crisis plural?

noun. cri·​sis | \ ˈkrī-səs \ plural crises\ ˈkrī-​ˌsēz \

How smart are OctoPi?

All the while, they will appear to watch you with their large, mobile eyes. Again, these are behaviors we associate with dolphins and dogs—but not with, say, fish, let alone animals such as sea urchins or clams. The octopus mind has evolved along a route entirely different from the one that led to our own.

When did OctoPi become octopuses?

You would not, however, be correct. In reality, the English language adopted the word octopus in the mid-1700s. Because English nouns ending in -s are switched to -es when made plural, octopus became octopuses.

What is the definition of OctoPi?

(ŏk′tə-pī′) A plural of octopus.

What is Platypus plural?

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 it correct to say cactuses?

When to Use Cactuses

Cactus plural: Cactuses is an alternative spelling of the same plural noun. According to Bryan Garner (2016), both are accepted variants. Cactuses is more common in speech and ordinary usage, while cacti is favored in print sources and scientific uses.

What is octopus skin made of?

The skin consists of a thin outer epidermis with mucous cells and sensory cells, and a connective tissue dermis consisting largely of collagen fibres and various cells allowing colour change. Most of the body is made of soft tissue allowing it to lengthen, contract, and contort itself.

What is the plural of deer?

noun, plural deer, (occasionally) deers. any of several ruminants of the family Cervidae, most of the males of which have solid, deciduous antlers. any of the smaller species of this family, as distinguished from the moose, elk, etc.

How many brains does an octopus have?

Thanks to their nine brains, it seems that octopuses have the benefit of both localised and centralised control over their actions.

What is sheep in plural form?

sheep. / (ʃiːp) / noun plural sheep.