The plural of "octopus" has three different forms, each with its own linguistic background:
- Octopuses : This is the most commonly accepted plural form when speaking and writing in English. It emerged later in the nineteenth century and has the attached -es ending to follow the English formation of plurals
- Octopi : This is the oldest plural form, originating from the belief that words of Latin origin should have Latin endings. However, "octopus" is not a Latin word, which makes this plural form less accurate
- Octopodes : This plural form comes from the belief that "octopus" is originally Greek. It follows the Greek formation for plurals, but it is the least-used ending, even though it may fit the word's Greek origins best
In summary, the plural of "octopus" can be "octopuses," "octopi," or "octopodes," with each form having its own linguistic basis. The most commonly accepted plural form is "octopuses" when speaking and writing in English
