Snap Language

Sometimes there is a change in the pronunciation of the ending F or FE for some words, and you add -es to the end of those words. Other times, there is no change in pronunciation or spelling.

For nouns ending in F or FE, there are three ways to make the plural.

Words ending in -craft (meaning small boat or vessel)

Other words

Some words do not end in -s or -es in the plural form. The plural form

Irregular plurals

Note. Compound words ending in one of the above words keep the irregular plural.

Many words in English come from other languages (e.g., Latin, Greek, French, Italian, Japanese). Many of these borrowed words kept the plural forms from the original language.

It does not matter what language an irregular plural came from. You just need to memorize it.

Singular -us  becomes -i  in the plural

The i is pronounced as the word “I.”

Note. Regular plurals for these words are also possible (“cactuses,” “funguses,” “syllabuses,” etc.), but the irregular plurals are much more common.

Singular -a becomes -ae

Note. Regular plurals are also possible for these words (formulas, vertebras, larvas), especially in spoken English.

Singular -ix or ex becomes -ices or -es

Note. Regular plurals are also possible for these words (appendixes, indexes, vortexes), but the irregular plurals are more common in formal English.

Singular -on or -umbecomes a

Singular -is becomes -es

The is and es are pronounced as “is" and “sees.”

Other

Note. Borrowed words such as the above may end up changing to the regular (for example, one kimono, two kimonos; one plateau, two plateaus). Although “graffiti” is a plural in Italian, it is generally used as a singular word in English (as are “spaghetti” and “ravioli").