4 ms·

I used to spell octopuses but someone corrected me to use octopi , now we are back to octopuses or octopodes ?

by v3ss0n 1y ago

Nursie 1y ago
I sometimes say octopods. Octopi is correct, in that it is an english language plural for octopus. It is not etymologically sound, certainly, as it's a latinate plural on a greek root. So anyone telling you that any other form is wrong and insuating that 'octopi' is more correct is certainly asking to be mocked. But as we don't really do '-podes' in english, and "Octopusses" is a bit of a mouthful, I think we can accept any and all as more or less equally cromulent.
- strken 1y ago
  We still say "antipodes", and "gastropods" might count. Not to argue against this, I'm just wondering how many Greek -foot words I can think of.
  - Nursie 1y ago
    You're not wrong, though antipodes tends to pluralise antipode, rather than antipus! That said, wikipedia mentions antipus or antipous may have been correct before the 16th century, and antipode is likely a sort of reverse de-pluralisation. I can't say I'm familiar with many of the other -podes words: https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordfinder/classic/ends/all/-1/podes/1 https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordfinder/classic/ends/all/... They seem largely to be part of scientific species names. 'pods' is more natural feeling. Tripods, bipods, gastropods, cephalopods!
mathieuh 1y ago
I would say "octopuses" personally. "Octopodes" is more etymologically correct but you run the risk of not being understood, and "octopi", while in common usage, is etymologically wrong and people who are aware of this might look down on you slightly. "Octopuses" is both understandable and correct etymologically since "octopus" is a normal English word.
ranguna 1y ago
Tbh I'd understand it if you used all three forms. Octopuses is also etymologically incorrect, but the general public found it ok to use and it got generally accepted because people liked it. I don't see any reason for this to happen again with octopi, although now it might be more difficult. Personally I'll use octopuses, just because I once confused octopi as a word for another species of the family octopodes belong to. Now I know it's a common plural, but it didn't sound like a plural to me back then. I'd prefer to use octopodes, but I feel like this can too be confused with another species, and I don't want to sound all smart in saying it's actually a plural. Octopuses bypasses all that confusion, and probably everyone will understand that it's the plural of octopus, albeit some might have doubts whether it's the correct form or not.

I used to spell octopuses but someone corrected me to use octopi , now we are back to octopuses or octopodes ?

by v3ss0n 1y ago

I used to spell octopuses but someone corrected me to use octopi , now we are back to octopuses or octopodes ?

I sometimes say octopods. Octopi is correct, in that it is an english language plural for octopus. It is not etymologically sound, certainly, as it's a latinate plural on a greek root. So anyone telling you that any other form is wrong and insuating that 'octopi' is more correct is certainly asking to be mocked. But as we don't really do '-podes' in english, and "Octopusses" is a bit of a mouthful, I think we can accept any and all as more or less equally cromulent.

strken 1y ago
We still say "antipodes", and "gastropods" might count. Not to argue against this, I'm just wondering how many Greek -foot words I can think of.
- Nursie 1y ago
  You're not wrong, though antipodes tends to pluralise antipode, rather than antipus! That said, wikipedia mentions antipus or antipous may have been correct before the 16th century, and antipode is likely a sort of reverse de-pluralisation. I can't say I'm familiar with many of the other -podes words: https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordfinder/classic/ends/all/-1/podes/1 https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordfinder/classic/ends/all/... They seem largely to be part of scientific species names. 'pods' is more natural feeling. Tripods, bipods, gastropods, cephalopods!

mathieuh 1y ago

I would say "octopuses" personally. "Octopodes" is more etymologically correct but you run the risk of not being understood, and "octopi", while in common usage, is etymologically wrong and people who are aware of this might look down on you slightly. "Octopuses" is both understandable and correct etymologically since "octopus" is a normal English word.

ranguna 1y ago

Tbh I'd understand it if you used all three forms. Octopuses is also etymologically incorrect, but the general public found it ok to use and it got generally accepted because people liked it. I don't see any reason for this to happen again with octopi, although now it might be more difficult. Personally I'll use octopuses, just because I once confused octopi as a word for another species of the family octopodes belong to. Now I know it's a common plural, but it didn't sound like a plural to me back then. I'd prefer to use octopodes, but I feel like this can too be confused with another species, and I don't want to sound all smart in saying it's actually a plural. Octopuses bypasses all that confusion, and probably everyone will understand that it's the plural of octopus, albeit some might have doubts whether it's the correct form or not.