Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 10 down vote favorite
1

Why is walri not the correct pluralization of walrus?

share|improve this question

1 Answer

up vote 20 down vote

Only some words of Latin extraction ending in -us, which were second declension nouns in Latin, take -i as plural.

Walrus comes from Dutch, and is akin to Danish and Norwegian hvalros. It is not a Latin second declension noun, so there is no reason it would be pluralized with -i.

The plural of walrus is walruses.

Edit: I just want add an additional note to clarify that even in cases where an English word does come from a Latin second declension noun, its plural might not necessarily end in -i. For example, the plural of campus is campuses not campi, and the plural of bonus is bonuses not boni.

share|improve this answer
6  
Exactly. Similar situation with octopus (which is of Greek origin), pluralised to octopodes if you're being 'proper'. – Noldorin Oct 7 '10 at 19:05
Aren't there also lots of Latin-derived words that don't use the Latin pluralization? I mean, we're not speaking Latin here. – Mr. Shiny and New 安宇 Oct 7 '10 at 19:45
@Mr. Shiny and New yes, you are exactly right—that’s why I said “Only some words of Latin extraction.” – nohat♦ Oct 7 '10 at 19:52
aha, I didn't interpret your sentence that way actually; I thought you meant "Only some words - those which were second declension nouns - take i as plural". I guess on re-reading your statement it also (subtly, IMO) covers the point that even if Walrus WAS one of the -i nouns that doesn't mean it still IS. :) – Mr. Shiny and New 安宇 Oct 7 '10 at 20:00
6  
So arguably the "correct" plural (if you're a prescriptivist who likes importing plurals) is "walrussen" or "walrusser". – Jon Purdy Oct 8 '10 at 23:50
show 1 more comment

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.