Octopuke

[Radius Solis]

Oh, is Welf one of those principled anti-octopi-ists who refuse to "mix" "latin and greek" while speaking English, as if source languages were relevant to doing so? Such a shame. As one of our only three words with a correct -i plural, "octopi" is cultural treasure and must be preserved, defended, and encouraged at all costs.

And don't even think about trying to disapprove of my remaining strong verbs.

[Kereb]

whatchoo mean only three man there's loads of words with a plural in -i

[Hallow XIII]

Well given the previous U CAN'T GREEK BELEND I took it to be him beating the same horse.

Also, even if it isn't, you can take it as such and it becomes funny.

[Drydic]

And don't even think about trying to disapprove of my remaining strong verbs.

May they forever expand.

[Radius Solis]

whatchoo mean only three man there's loads of words with a plural in -i

Ones that are unambiguously correct and dominant in Standard English? Cacti, octopi, and fungi are the only three I could think of. If you know more, please say!

edit: and aren't technical/jargon words only people in specific fields can be expected to be familiar with.
edit edit: nucleus - nuclei has been pointed out to me. That one is an acceptable entry. Okay, there's FOUR now.

[Salmoneus]

ALIMI, 'octopi' is only arguably correct, and nowhere near 'dominant'. (don't blame me, I'm fine with it)

Here's one I used yesterday: gladiolus/gladioli. I'm sure there are a bunch of other flower names that work like this (though not all - never heard 'hibisci', for instance). Animal names too - 'hippopotami' and 'rhinoceri' certainly. Alumni. Termini. Stimuli. Sarcophagi. Foci. Syllabi? Rhombi and tumuli, though you might call those technical. Succubi, though. Probably others.

Spare a thought for the poor -us/-era plurals. Off-hand can only think of two (and a third that I think is 'right' but probably have never encounted in the wild).

[Hallow XIII]

Sal, the Graecolatinate plural is rhinocerotes. I might have been inclined to forgive you for rhinoceroi, which I gather is also a popular pseudograecolatinate form, because the derivation of rhinoceros is opaque and ο and ω cannot be differentiated in an English borrowing - but not noticing the difference between u and o is surely a more heinous crime.

Also everybody says rhinoceroses.

[WeepingElf]

Actually, I have seen worse pseudo-Latin plurals. The "best" one was penii, which was meant to be the plural of penis

[Vuvuzela]

Octopi is the only ʊs->aɪ plural in English, and for that alone deserves to be protected. Same goes for people,our only suppletive plural.

[finlay]

"Rhinos" and "hippos".... like, nobody even says the long form anyway and when they do it takes a refular plural.

[KathTheDragon]

"Rhinos" and "hippos".... like, nobody even says the long form anyway and when they do it takes a refular plural.

Have you asked every person in the world if they use the long form and what the plural is for them?

[----]

There's no way anybody exists that prefers saying rhinoceros to rhino.

[Drydic]

"Rhinos" and "hippos".... like, nobody even says the long form anyway and when they do it takes a refular plural.

Have you asked every person in the world if they use the long form and what the plural is for them?

Quit being a smart-ass.

[Nesescosac]

Any of y'all ever seen "foetera" for "fetus"? Very, very bad Latin, but apparently a thing in English.

[Thry]

Oh, is Welf one of those principled anti-octopi-ists who refuse to "mix" "latin and greek" while speaking English, as if source languages were relevant to doing so? Such a shame. As one of our only three words with a correct -i plural, "octopi" is cultural treasure and must be preserved, defended, and encouraged at all costs.

And don't even think about trying to disapprove of my remaining strong verbs.

I cringe when I see words like karyoferins or symporter.

[Drydic]

Oh, is Welf one of those principled anti-octopi-ists who refuse to "mix" "latin and greek" while speaking English, as if source languages were relevant to doing so? Such a shame. As one of our only three words with a correct -i plural, "octopi" is cultural treasure and must be preserved, defended, and encouraged at all costs.

And don't even think about trying to disapprove of my remaining strong verbs.

I cringe when I see words like karyoferins or symporter.

What the hell are those supposed to be?

[Thry]

Technical (cell biology) terms with both Greek and Latin roots.

If it was me who had made the words, they'd be karyophorins and coporters or sth.

[Thry]

I just found out karyopherin is indeed all-Greek (phew, good to learn); I was confused by the fact that in Spanish (carioferina) "-fer-" is indistinguishable from Latin -fer, as in aquifer. But this -pher- is just an allomorph of -phor-, both from verb pherw, to carry, as in phosphorus, galactophorous, oophorus.... so I'm good with that one.

Still, loads of real Frankenstein Greek-Latin words.

[finlay]

homosexuality





television

[Drydic]

pherw, to carry

*pherō

[Thry]

Gráfw ópws 8élw!

[Arzena]

homosexuality

Stop being effete Latins and be strong Germanic samekind!

[Hallow XIII]

Gráfw ópws 8élw!

my eyes
they bleed

[Zontas]

Oh, is Welf one of those principled anti-octopi-ists who refuse to "mix" "latin and greek" while speaking English, as if source languages were relevant to doing so? Such a shame. As one of our only three words with a correct -i plural, "octopi" is cultural treasure and must be preserved, defended, and encouraged at all costs.

And don't even think about trying to disapprove of my remaining strong verbs.

It's octopodes. The Latin word is 3rd declension, and the Greek word actually had -us, which in this specific case makes the plural -odes (compare English foot). Also, octo- is native to both Greek and latin.

[Hallow XIII]

zontas it did not have -us that's how they spelt a long [o:]. You know, compensatory lengthening from the deletion of a d.

Also this has already been said and I really don't see why you feel the need to revive a stupid months-old discussion on English plurals especially if you have nothing to add.