The plural of anus is anuses.
While some words of Latin origin ending in "-us" adopt a plural form ending in "-i" (like alumnus becoming alumni), the word "anus" follows the more common English rule for pluralization, simply adding "-es" to the singular form.
Understanding the Plural Form: Anuses
The correct and widely accepted plural form for the noun anus is anuses. This adheres to standard English grammatical rules for words ending in an 's' sound, where adding 'es' forms the plural.
The singular form anus is pronounced /ˈeɪnəs/. When pluralized to anuses, the pronunciation adapts to /ˈeɪnəsɪz/.
English Pluralization Rules for -us Nouns
English has borrowed many words from Latin, and their pluralization can sometimes be a point of confusion. However, for "anus," the rule is straightforward.
Latin Roots, English Rules
Many Latin-derived words have been fully assimilated into the English language, meaning they adopt English pluralization patterns rather than retaining their original Latin plural forms. "Anus" falls into this category.
For comparison, words like alumnus (plural alumni) or cactus (plural cacti or cactuses) sometimes retain their Latinate plurals, although English "-es" forms are also increasingly accepted for many of these words (e.g., cactuses, funguses). The key distinction is that "anuses" is the universally accepted and preferred plural for "anus."
Common Plural Forms for -us Endings
When a singular noun ends with a 's' sound (or the letters -s, -x, -ch, -sh, -z), English typically forms the plural by adding "-es". This is precisely what happens with "anus."
The table below illustrates different pluralization patterns for words ending in "-us" in English:
| Category | Singular Form | Plural Form(s) | Pronunciation (Singular) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard English Plural | anus | anuses | /ˈeɪnəs/ |
| virus | viruses | /ˈvaɪrəs/ | |
| campus | campuses | /ˈkæmpəs/ | |
| bonus | bonuses | /ˈboʊnəs/ | |
| Mixed/Latin-Derived Plural | alumnus | alumni | /əˈlʌmnəs/ |
| cactus | cacti / cactuses | /ˈkæktəs/ | |
| fungus | fungi / funguses | /ˈfʌŋɡəs/ | |
| nucleus | nuclei | /ˈnjuːkliəs/ |
As you can see, anuses consistently follows the standard English pluralization.
Etymology and Context
The word "anus" originates from the Latin word ānus, meaning "ring" or "vent." Despite its Latin root, its integration into English has led to a standard English plural. This is common for many anatomical and medical terms.
In various contexts, whether medical, scientific, or general discussion, the plural form anuses is used. For example:
- "The study examined the anatomy of several anuses across different species."
- "Surgeons often encounter different conditions affecting the anuses."
Key Takeaways
- The correct plural of "anus" is anuses.
- It follows the standard English pluralization rule of adding "-es" to words ending in an 's' sound.
- This form is widely accepted in all contexts, including medical and anatomical discussions.
- The singular is pronounced /ˈeɪnəs/, and the plural is pronounced /ˈeɪnəsɪz/.
