is it platapi or platapusses or what?
2007-11-23 04:23:32 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
sorry about the spelling. i meant platypus.
2007-11-23 05:17:45 · update #1
First of all, it's ironic that any English dictionary would list "platypi" as acceptable. The singular -us > plural -i (as in radius/radii, alumnus/alumni) reflects a particular type of LATIN noun. "Platypus" is based on the GREEK word. Its Greek-style plural would be "platipode" (pus = 'foot' / pode = 'feet').
But the statement that "platypode" is the more technically correct answer is NOT true for ENGLISH, which is what we're talking about here.
In other words, the best option (as even the Yahoo!Answers spell-check will indicate) is the ordinary plural type "platypuses"
2007-11-23 05:56:54 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Plural For Platypus
2016-10-18 00:41:40 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2006, the plural of platypus is either platypuses or platypi.
In dictionaries, the first listed pronunciation, spelling, etc indicates it is the most used/accepted. So, in this case, you can certainly use the word platypi but platypuses is more common.
2007-11-23 04:30:16 · answer #3 · answered by FourArrows 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Apparently, 'platypus' and 'platypuses' are correct enough for common use but, if you really want to be technical, the term you're looking for is 'platypode'.
2007-11-23 04:27:29 · answer #4 · answered by tornadointhesky 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you mean the animal, the spelling is platypus
singular is platypus
the plural is platypuses
2007-11-23 04:29:32 · answer #5 · answered by risedreamer 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Uhm...lots of platypus? Ü
2007-11-23 04:29:26 · answer #6 · answered by maitabrady 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
scientists generally use platypuses or just platypus
2007-11-23 04:33:07 · answer #7 · answered by Jane 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
it's platypus
plural platypuses
2007-11-23 04:26:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋