- Our Mission
- Job Openings
- Experts
- Partners
- History
- Financials
Our Mission
Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.
-
Our Programs
- Advancing Ocean Justice
- Overview
- Confronting Climate Change
- Overview
- Ocean Acidification
- Global Shipping
- Offshore Wind
- State Climate Action
- Publications
- Wildlife Library
- Government Relations
- Overview
- Protecting Florida
- Overview
- Super Bowl 2020
- Harmful Algal Blooms
- Shores Forward
- Miami CAP Report
- Sea Level Rise
- Restoring the Gulf of Mexico
- Wildlife Library
- Protecting the Arctic
- Overview
- Oil Spills
- Arctic Marine Debris Initiative
- Safer Arctic Shipping
- Risky Drilling
- Wildlife Library
- Take a Deep Dive
- Smart Ocean Planning
- Overview
- An Ocean of Jobs
- Our Ocean at Work
- Wildlife Library
- Take a Deep Dive
- Sustainable Fisheries
- Overview
- POSEIDON
- Bringing Red Snapper Back from the Brink
- Take a Deep Dive
- Wildlife Library
- Trash Free Seas
- Overview
- International Coastal Cleanup®
- Plastics in the Ocean
- Boating Community
- Wildlife Library
- Take a Deep Dive
-
Our Mission
Our work is focused on solving some of the greatest threats facing our ocean today. We bring people, science and policy together to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean.
- View All Programs
-
The Latest
- Blog
- In the News
- Meet the Authors
- Press Releases
- Wildlife Library
-
Today's Highlights
Is The Yellow Boxfish the Cutest Fish in the World? What Americans Actually Think About Plastic Pollution Five Species of Parrotfish All Ocean Lovers Should Know What is a Neon Flying Squid?
- View Blogs By Program
- Climate
- Ocean Trash
- Marine Wildlife
Featured Actions
Transition Away From Dirty Fossil FuelsPower Responsible, Rapid and Just Climate SolutionsBig Oil Must Clean Up After ThemselvesProtect Clean Water for All
- View All Actions
Other Ways to Give
Renew Your MembershipYour Generous Gift Will Help Us Continue To Protect Our Ocean And Its Wildlife.- View All the Ways YOU can Help
One-Time Gift
One-Time GiftDonate NowGive Once
Monthly Giving
Monthly GivingGo MonthlyGive Monthly
-
Have a Question? Call 800-519-1541
-
February 1, 2022
3 Minute Read
Octopi vs octopuses vs octopodes
Written By
Michelle FreySenior Director, Digital OutreachStay Current!
Enter your email and never miss an update
Help save our ocean
With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean.
Donate Today!
What has eight arms, three hearts, uses camouflage and has a very confusing plural form?
The octopus!
The English language can be quite puzzling at times. As a mother of two boys, we have LEGO tiles all over the house. And while there are hundreds of LEGO on the floor that I have to tiptoe around, please notice the plural of LEGO is still LEGO. Confusing? Yes, it certainly is.
Which brings me to today’s blog topic: What is the plural of octopus? How would you tell your friends that your saw a video that featured more than one glass octopus?
To get us started, let’s take a look at the word: octopus. It is a Latinized form of the Greek word októpus, which translates to “eight foot.”
Stay Current
Sign up for emails
Disclaimer: Before I dive in, I will acknowledge that people have very strong opinions about grammar: Oxford comma usage as one such example. So, please go easy on the author of this blog.
Octopi ❌
While “octopi” has become popular in modern usage, it’s wrong. Octopi is the oldest plural form of octopus, coming from the belief that Latin origins should have Latin endings. However, octopus is not a simple Latin word, but a Latinized form of the Greek word októpus. Consequently, its “correct” plural form would logically be octopodes.
Octopodes ❌
“Octopodes” stems from the belief that because octopus is originally Greek, it should have a Greek ending. This term might be technically correct, but it is the least-used incorrect form of the word for more than one octopus. Using “octopodes” might cause more confusion than it’s worth.
Octopuses ✅
“Octopuses” gives the word an English ending to match its adoption as an English word. Generally, when a noun enters into English, it is pluralized as an English word rather than in its original form. Octopuses may sound peculiar to some, but this is the preferred plural.
It’s also peculiar to debate octopuses when the octopus is a solitary creature. So, they would very much prefer we didn’t have this discussion in the first place!
The moral of the story is—it’s a good thing to see multiple octopuses! It means we have a healthy ocean.
You Can Help Octopuses
Unlike other species, octopuses don’t have a hard shell or sharp spines to protect themselves, so camouflage is their best bet for avoiding hungry predators. They use this ability to hide in reefs, rocks or sand.
One thing octopuses can’t hide from? Ocean plastics.
The ocean plastics villain may prove deadlier than any of those natural predators ever could.
But we can stop this. We can keep ocean plastics out of these creatures’ homes. Join us in taking action today.Take action on plastic pollution today. Tell Congress to support the REDUCE Act and make it less desirable to create new plastics.
Browse Topics
Sections
Ocean Life
Stay Current!
Enter your email and never miss an update
Recommended reads
Our work is focused on solving some of the greatest threats facing our ocean today. We bring people, science and policy together to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean.
Read more
- Trash Free SeasWhat the Foam?!
- Confronting Climate ChangeCoping with Climate Anxiety
- Confronting Climate ChangeGovernment RelationsProtecting The ArcticDos and Don’ts for Decommissioning
- Meet the Giant Isopod of the Deep Sea
- Confronting Climate ChangeLearning From and Standing With Climate Justice Communities
- Protecting The ArcticReducing Underwater Noise from Ships
- Trash Free SeasDo You Know Your ALDFGs?
- All About Sperm Whales
- Sustainable FisheriesThings You Didn’t Know About Swordfish
How is Ocean Warming Impacting the Shipping Industry?
As deeply troubling reports continue to come in about ocean waters hitting historic hot temperatures, sectors…
What is a Nurdle?
Have you ever walked along the beach and spotted tiny plastic balls or discs? They may…
Do Jellyfish Have Brains?
Do jellyfish have brains? The short answer is no, jellyfish do not have brains. But this…
Recommended
Sea More
View Current Posts
How is Ocean Warming Impacting the Shipping Industry?
As deeply troubling reports continue to come in about ocean waters hitting historic hot temperatures, sectors…
What is a Nurdle?
Have you ever walked along the beach and spotted tiny plastic balls or discs? They may…
Do Jellyfish Have Brains?
Do jellyfish have brains? The short answer is no, jellyfish do not have brains. But this…
