The Plural of Octopus - Neatorama

Every time we blog about an octopus, or rather, more than one octopus, we can count on a debate in the comments about the proper plural form for the animal. Here's the real scoop from Kory Stamper, who is an Associate Editor at Merriam-Webster, the dictionary company. -via Holy Kaw!

Ooo, she can pluralise my octopus any time.

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So hawt.

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That was awesome.

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My favorite marine life, I've always like octopods, and now I know why. When the last time anyone saw a group of octopodes? Lately we've just seen individuals making their mark.

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It's either octopuses or octopi whether you're talking about more than one species or more than one octopus. It's just that I forget which is which. And I learnulated this when I was a Marine Bio major, so it must be true. Whichever one it was.

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I'll keep on saying octopussies.

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I knew about octopodes, but I pronounced it phonetically (octo-powds), rather than "oct-opoddies" like she did.

I am English though, so I imagine I speak with a so-called "British" accent.

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I wonder if the same is true for cactuses/cacti? Both area correct, but people always give me funny looks when I say cactuses, which I prefer because it sounds silly.

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No i disagree it is actually cactopodes.

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cactopussies.

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cacteese

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An old story goes like that :

...a couple of weeks ago while diving I could see one large octopus ... No, wait there actually TWO of them !

Ah Ah!
Alessandro

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Made me think of :
http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/05/oktapodi/

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I am TOTALLY using octopodes from now on and I'm not explainin' nuthin'.

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I thought the best part was ignorant slob!

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Crap! I knew about octopus being a Greek derivative and the derived plural being octopodes, but I had only read this, never heard anyone say it... so I've been mispronouncing octopodes for years. I feel so ashamed.

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I'm in the same boat as Allen: I knew the 'correct' plural, but was mispronouncing it in my head.

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The politically correct form of 'ignorant slut' is 'ignorant slob', or 'ignorant slobodeez' for plural.

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