Colloquially, platypi is also used for the plural, although this is pseudo-Latin. So it looks like the most accepted plural of “platypus” is “platypuses” or simply “platypus.” But whatever you call them, it’s hard to go wrong with a cuddly stuffed animal to love. Scientists generally use platypuses or simply platypus. It further states that “platypus” is the most-used term in scientific fields.Īnd, if it counts for anything, my computer’s autocorrect accepts “platypuses,” but not “platypi.” An Australian website devoted to information about the platypus agrees with the Wikipedia article. According to Merriam-Webster and, the plural can be either “platypuses” or “platypi.” My computer dictionary lists only “platypuses” as a plural form.Ī Wikipedia article on the platypus states that the proper plural is “platypuses” or just “platypus.” “Platypi” is considered to be incorrect, as it assumes the word “platypus” comes from Latin when it was really derived from Greek. However, being a fairly novel plural form, it is seldom used the plurals platypuses, platypus, or, more rarely, platypi are more common. If you so happen to use this term as a plural form of the noun platypus, please get out. The dictionary seemed like a logical place to start. Are you loving our fun facts You can check out all of. Because of this, I am often asked for the plural of “platypus.” It’s an odd word and many people guess “platypi” and sometimes “platypuses.” I thought it would be fun to do a little research and find out what really is the acceptable plural of “platypus.” Also, just learnt that the correct plural of platypus is platypuses, although people still like to say platypi. That would be the plural using Greek rules: both platypus and octopus are from Greek, and do not (as is commonly assumed) use the Latin plurals platypi and octopi.The correct English plural is. What’s the plural of octopus Octopi is the oldest plural form of octopus, coming from the belief that Latin origins should have Latin endings. One of my most popular products is my platypus stuffed animal. The Greek plural for platypus is platypodes, but this plural is not used in English.

Plural of platypus