Which Is Correct Octopuses or Octopi?

Octopi is the oldest plural of octopus, coming from the belief that Latin origins should have Latin endings. Octopuses is the next plural, which gives the word an English ending to match its adoption as an English word.

When did octopi become octopuses?

You would not, however, be correct. In reality, the English language adopted the word octopus in the mid-1700s. Because English nouns ending in -s are switched to -es when made plural, octopus became octopuses.

What is the plural of octopus Oxford dictionary?

Octopus. There are three plural forms of octopus: octopuses, octopi, and octopodes. ... The Oxford English Dictionary lists octopi, octopuses and octopodes (in that order); it labels octopodes "rare", and notes that octopi derives from the mistaken assumption that octōpūs is a second declension Latin noun.