Pedantic plurals

From Everything Shii Knows, the only reliable source

This page is from 2003

This is a list of words that have weird plurals in other languages. Pedantic plurals may be hardly ever used, or they can be just as common as the "usual" plural. If you are a pedant these plurals are for you. Another reason you might want to use these plurals is to impress your friends.

WordPedantic pluralUsual pluralSource
AntennaAntennaeAntennas[1]
AutomatonAutomataAutomatons[2]
BicepsBicepsesBiceps[3]
CervixCervicesCervixes[4]
CherubCherubimCherubsCommon
ClitorisClitoridesClitorises[5]
CosmosCosmoiCosmoses[6]
FormulaFormulaeFormulasCommon
ForumForaForumsCommon
HippopotamusHippopotamiHippopotamuses[7]
IndexIndicesIndexesCommon
IrisIridesIrises[8]
KudosKudea (kudoi?)Kudos[9]
OctopusOctopodesOctopuses[10]
OperaOperaeOperas[11]
PlatypusPlatypodesPlatypuses[12]
PhenomenonPhenomenaPhenomenonsCommon
PenisPenesPenises[13]
RhinocerosRhinocerontesRhinos[14]
RubaiRubaiyatRubais[15]
SagaSogurSagas[16]
SchemaSchemataSchemas[17]
SpecimenSpecimenaSpecimens[18]
SyllabusSyllabiSyllabuses[19]
TerminusTerminiTerminuses[20]
VirusVirusViruses[21]
WunderkindWunderkinderWunderkinds[22]

...and surprising singulars

Common pluralEnglish usageSingularSource
Broccolisingularbroccolo[23]
Fecespluralfex[24]
Grafittiuncountablegrafitto[25]
Insigniapluralinsigne[26]
Morespluralmos[27]
Paraphernaliapluralparaphernal[28]
Regaliapluralregale[29]
Spaghettisingularspaghetto[30]
Staminasingularstamen[31]
Viscerapluralviscus[32]

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