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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 latinat
by 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 agoWe 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 agoYou'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!