2006-11-17 05:45:29 · 7 answers · asked by Steph 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
fetuses
2006-11-17 05:50:18 · answer #1 · answered by Shmily P 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fetuses is the most common plural.
There is an alternative spelling, foetus, in which case it's foetuses. That spelling is closer to the original Greek, they loved "OE" (think Oedipus etc); I think this might be the spelling favored in Britain, but in North America it's usually fetuses.
2006-11-17 05:55:47 · answer #2 · answered by joseph_strummer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally have only heard it said as 'fetuses', but I think it's one of those that you can say either way. Edit: I think I'm wrong though. According to the American Heritage dictionary: fe·tus (fē'təs) n., pl. -tus·es. The plural is fetuses, and that the only way I've been able to find it. Can't find any mention of 'feti' in the dictionary.
2016-05-21 23:03:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
fetora
Sometimes the proper plural of a word ending in “us” will be formed by dropping the “us” and adding “era” or “ora.” For example: “viscus” becomes “viscera”; “corpus” becomes “corpora.”
One reason for treating Latin words under English rules is that the patterns for forming plurals are far more complex in Latin. For example, nouns that end in "-us" in the singular do not change in the plural (like English words "deer" and "salmon"), such as "arcus, decubitus, ductus, fetus, hiatus, ictus, introitus," etc.
2006-11-17 06:01:07 · answer #4 · answered by pegasis 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
fetuses
2006-11-17 06:17:23 · answer #5 · answered by meandme 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
fetuses
2006-11-17 05:49:30 · answer #6 · answered by teel2624 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Twins, triplets, etc LOL
2006-11-17 05:52:50 · answer #7 · answered by my_alias_id 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋