What is the plural of octopus?
The most common plural of octopus is octopuses. Octopi is widely used too and is accepted by many dictionaries, while octopodes is a rarer form based on the word's Greek origin.
The word octopus comes from Greek, meaning eight-footed. Some people use octopi, believing it follows the Latin plural pattern of words like cactus and cacti. However, octopus is not a Latin word, so many language experts consider octopi technically based on a mistake, although it has become common enough to be accepted.
Octopodes follows the Greek plural form and is sometimes used for humor or by people who enjoy unusual words. Most dictionaries and style guides recommend octopuses for everyday writing because it follows the normal English rule of adding -es.
Octopus facts
Octopuses are remarkable animals. They have three hearts, blue blood and eight arms lined with suckers that can taste what they touch. They are very intelligent, able to solve puzzles, open jars and escape from tanks, and they can change color and texture in an instant.
Did You Know?
Most octopuses live only one to two years, and many females stop eating while guarding their eggs.