Myth: The plural of Octopus is Octopii
01/01/07 00:00 Filed in: Language
What is the plural of
octopus?
Myth
When you have to account for more than one octopus, you call them octopi.
Reality
Both octopi and octopuses are in fact incorrect. The correct plural for octopus is in fact octopodes. According to Oxford Dictionaries, Octopus is not a simple Laton word of the second declension, but a Latinized form of the Greek word oktopous.
I'll take their word on that one.
What is clear is that unlike other words ending in -us, it is unique. Somehow I don't think The Beetles will change the lyrics for their "Yellow Submarine" song.
Source Ask Oxford Dictionaries
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