I just want to know what's the plural for platypus.
Is it like bus, buses?
Or like Cactus, cacti?
it can be platypuses.
or platypi.
Or platypises.
Hmm.....bis?\
Cactuses?
How about pus?
Pis?
Puses?
"There is no universally agreed plural of "platypus" in the English language. Scientists generally use "platypuses" or simply "platypus". Colloquially the term "platypi" is also used for the plural, although this is technically incorrect and a form of pseudo-Latin: the correct Greek plural would be "platypodes" "
KitkatCat, when I get to work, I shall consult my ginormous Webster's/Random House dictionary (known by my department as "The Boss") and report what it says :)
I've never heard playpodes, but I will now be using that as the correct plural form. Now I just need to find a reason to use Platypus more in everyday convos...
In dutch, we call it a "vogelbekdier". Literally translated: Birdbeakanimal/
I did 2 projects about it at elementary school. What I still remember from it: It's the only mammal that lays eggs.
New word of the day: Monotreme: an egg laying mammal. Now-a-days the only surviving species are the platypus and 4 species of echidnas ("spiny anteaters")
I, too, am now obsessively trying to cook up a way of using the word "platypodes" in real life conversation. See, prior to reading this thread, I had never heard of such a thing as "platypodes". Sure, there have always been platypuses and platypi, but these 'podes? It makes me think of their little deadly, webby feeties. Oh dear. It's my new pet word!
"Hi, honey! How was work?"
"Oh, you know. 'Nother day, 'nother something something. "
"Aha, I see. Platypodes, dear?"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"I thought you just said ..."
"No, I didn't. Dinner's ready!"
I don't know. I may have to invest more planning into it at this stage.
The reason I asked was because mum (who works with dyslexic kids) and her colleague had to get a bunch of kids to repeat after them, a one of the thing they had to repeat was, "Three Platypus/ Platypi/ Platypuses " :)