octopus = holy animal?

[thelastpirate]

The plural of octopus is octopuses in modern English or octopodes from Ancient Greek.

[TwistedSister]

The plural of octopus is octopuses in modern English or octopodes from Ancient Greek.

What about octopi?

[Arkaeon]

Octopi was used commonly among biologists years ago. i think someone eventually pointed out that it is a mixture of latin and greek forms or something, and octopi lost support. The other plural I used to see was "octopussies," as if they were like cats, but that also sounded provocative or like a James Bond movie, so I guess "octopuses" won out by default. I don't see "octopodes" catching on, personally, regardless of correct grammar. It just doesn't have a good ring to it in english.

[TwistedSister]

Well, I like the sound of "octopi" so I'm sticking with it.

[Almighty Doer of Stuff]

My favorite not-at-all-etymologically-correct plural is more than one walrus: walri. No, nobody actually uses that word, but I think it would be funny if they did.

We are the walri! Goo goo g'joob!

[Ravi Oli]

We are the walri! Goo goo g'joob!:

...which Captain Kirk thought sounded threatening so he ordered all phasers fire... Walri extinct.

[Tigger_the_Wing]

Octopus:



Octopi:

[Ravi Oli]

[Arkaeon]

Octopus anecdote:
A medical lab had a problem with mice disappearing from their tanks, despite lids, which disrupted a couple controlled experiments that represented serious work and funding. They also had a saltwater fish tank which housed an octopus, also with a lid. One night one of the researchers decided to stay late to try to figure out what was going on. Was it an evil prankster? Was it animal rights terrorists? Was it some weird cosmic or spiritual force? No, you can guess already...

In the dim light of the lab shut down, he saw the octopus ooze out through a barely forced-open slot in its tank lid, slither over to a mouse tank, and pry its top open to eat the mouse inside. The octopus then retreated to its own tank, closing the lids behind it so no one would know. It had watched the researchers and gleaned their secrets, then used them to its own advantage.

Needless to say, they moved the octopus's tank to another part of the complex, and no more mice disappeared. What a clever pirate!

[bacon]

<off topic>

I still think the plural of Elvis is Elvi

</off topic>

[Almighty Doer of Stuff]

Wouldn't it be "Elves"? That's kind of funny, actually.

[Ham Nox]

I thought it was "Elvisi"

[Roy Hunter]

I thought it was "Elvisi"

El vis, Los vises?

[Cardinal Fang]

The plural of octopus is octopuses in modern English or octopodes from Ancient Greek.

According to QI and Stephen Fry (who are after all the fount of all knowledge and wisdom), this is correct. Octopi is definatl wrong.

CF

[Tigger_the_Wing]

The plural of octopus is octopuses in modern English or octopodes from Ancient Greek.

According to QI and Stephen Fry (who are after all the fount of all knowledge and wisdom), this is correct. Octopi is definatl wrong.

CF

As is the word ''definatl".

Did you mean "definitely"?

Don't cuddle this pretty little octopus. It's Australian.