• LogicalFallacy@lemm.eeEnglish
    19·
    9 days ago

    I’m just upset they killed all this octopuses.

    I also just learned that the word isn’t octopussies.

      • LogicalFallacy@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        Both are acceptable, I’ve read.

        The modern English representation of the classically correct Greek plural (had the word been so used in ancient Athens) would be octopodes. The common plural octopi (1817) regards the -us in this word as the Latin noun ending that takes -i in plural. As with many modern scientific creature-names, it was coined in Modern Latin from Greek elements, so it might be allowed to partake of Latin grammar in forming the plural. But probably the best policy for common words is to follow the grammar of the living language using them, and octopuses goes best in plain English (unless one wishes also to sanction diplodoci for the dinosaurs).

        https://www.etymonline.com/word/octopus

      • MBMEnglish
        16·
        9 days ago

        No. It doesn’t have the Latin ending -us, but actually ends with pus (fom the Greek word for foot). From the Greek origin, the plural would be octopodes. Octopuses is more usual.

      • vivendi@programming.devEnglish
        2·
        9 days ago

        Damn Greece in the 70s looked so like Iran-coded. Like, it’s not even funny you can go in any bazaar in the south and take a picture just like this today

        Just a neat observation