this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2025
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Science Memes

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submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 
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[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago (7 children)

*octopodes (yes I know octopuses is also correct but the technically correct version sounds cooler)

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

Only Japanese ones

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Depends on the language. Current standardized American English overwhelmingly list adds -s/-es to make a plural noun. So β€œoctopuses” would be technically correct with β€œoctopodes” and β€œoctopi” also accepted.

If you’re writing Latin, you’d want octopi instead. If you’re writing Greek: octopodes.

But English is a democratic language, so feel free to vote often and early by using your preferred version.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

at this point i feel the only sensible answer is to use the most nonsensical form that still sounds normal

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Octothingies is my favorite

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Dont you dare use a Latin pluralization of a Greek root word!

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'll use whatever pluralodes I feel like!

[–] snugglesthefalse 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Wow, look at all these plurapodes

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

There's lodes of them!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Its origin is Greek, but it comes to us through Latin, so fuck it. Plus it’s language, and octopi is understood by fluent speakers

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

You want 8 pies? What?

[–] PintOShenanigans 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I kinda love how this only works if you know the correct pronunciation. For those that don't, it's ock-top-uh-deez

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago