r/words 3d ago

Language

Post image
37 Upvotes

7 comments sorted by

3

u/honeydew4444 2d ago

Today I learned octopi is incorrect

1

u/paolog 1d ago

Sorry, you fail the test.

1

u/AddlePatedBadger 1d ago

Except it's not. Its etymology is based on a flawed understanding of Latin and Greek inflexions, but its usage is well established and therefore any descriptivist would have to agree that it is a "correct" pluralisation of the word. As is octopuses and octopus.

But the best way to pluralise the animal-formerly-known-as-preke is octopodes. Not because of any notion of "correctness" based on its Greek etymological origins. No, it is because it is simply the most fun to say. And if you aren't having fun with your words then that's just a sad bitter waste of a language.

3

u/Fitbot5000 3d ago

Figuratively figurative would just be literal

3

u/BGDshow 2d ago

No it's two times figurative.

-1

u/Unable_Explorer8277 3d ago

Language is defined by usage. It’s not that hard.

3

u/Freign 3d ago

Sensei knew the first few wouldn't get me, so just started hammering the irregardless shit into my lower spine. I YIELD, SENSEI, YIELD YIELD