Forming Plural Nouns in English - Part 1A - Sibilant Sounds and Words Ending in "O"
I. Forming Plural Nouns
a. Common and proper nouns generally add “s” to form the plural.
Examples: dogs, houses, papers, Smiths
b. Nouns that end in a sibilant (hissing) sound, add “es”.
These consonants include: (soft "ch", "s", "sh", "ss", "x", and "z")
Examples: biases, lasses, dishes, birches, boxes, quizzes
c. Nouns ending in “o” add “s” or “es”.
1. The plurals of most nouns ending in an "o" that's preceded by a vowel are formed by adding "s".
| cameo | cameos | |
| folio | folios | |
| kangaroo | kangaroos | |
| patio | patios | |
| portfolio | portfolios | |
| radio | radios | |
| studio | studios | |
| tattoo | tattoos | |
| video | videos | |
| zoo | zoos |
2. The plurals of most nouns ending in an "o" that's preceded by a consonant are formed by adding "es".
| banjo | banjoes |
| echo | echoes |
| embargo | embargoes |
| hero | heroes |
| potato | potatoes |
| tomato | tomatoes |
| torpedo | torpedoes |
| veto | vetoes |
3. Exceptions: All musical terms ending in an "o" form plurals by adding only an "s".
| solo | solos |
| soprano | sopranos |
| duo | duos |
| piano | pianos |
4. Some nouns ending in “o” may add either “es” or “s”.The words in bold are www.merriam-webster.com's preferred spelling.
| avocado | avocados | avocadoes |
| buffalo | buffalos | buffaloes |
| cargo | cargos | cargoes |
| desperado | desperados | desperadoes |
| domino | dominos | dominoes |
| ghetto | ghettos | ghettoes |
| halo | halos | haloes |
| hobo | hobos | hoboes |
| innuendo | innuendos | innuendoes |
| mango | mangos | mangoes |
| memento | mementos | momentoes |
| mosquito | mosquitos | mosquitoes |
| motto | mottos | mottoes |
| no | nos | noes |
| tornado | tornados | tornadoes |
| volcano | volcanos | volcanoes |
| zero | zeros | zeroes |
5. These do not follow the consonant rule and need to be memorized.
| armadillo | armadillos |
| auto | autos |
| bravo | bravos |
| bronco | broncos |
| casino | casinos |
| combo | combos |
| gazebo | gazebos |
| kilo | kilos |
| kimono | kimonos |
| logo | logos |
| memo | memos |
| poncho | ponchos |
| photo | photos |
| pimento | pimentos |
| pro | pros |
| sombrero | sombreros |
| taco | tacos |
| memo | memos |
| torso | torsos |
| tobacco | tobaccos |
| tipo | tipos |
6. Some nouns are the same in both singular and plural form and will also need to be memorized.
| aircraft | aircraft |
| bass (fish) | bass |
| bison | bison |
| deer | deer |
| fish | fish |
| fowl | fowl |
| halibut | halibut |
| moose | moose |
| salmon | salmon |
| sheep | sheep |
| stone (British weight measurement) | stone |
| spacecraft | spacecraft |
| tuna | tuna |
| trout | trout |
Anytime there is uncertainty as to which rule or exception to use, consult a dictionary.
These examples are not comprehensive, nor is the challenge meant to be comprehensive.
