Latin Plurals in English

Level 2

Latin plurals still live in English.

How It Works

English also accepts formulas and curriculums. A woman who studied at a school is an alumna, and several women are alumnae.

The rule helps with Latin too. When you meet curricula in a Latin sentence, it is a neuter plural: more than one curriculum.

The final i of a Latin plural sounds like ee. English says alumni and radii with a long i, but Latin says ah-LOOM-nee and RAH-dee-ee.

Alumnus in schola cantat.
The pupil sings in school.
Alumnus is singular. Latin alumnus means a foster child or pupil.
Alumni in schola cantant.
The pupils sing in school.
Alumni is the plural, from -us to -i, and the verb is plural too.
Radii in rota sunt.
The spokes are in the wheel.
Radius means a spoke or a ray. Its plural is radii.
Curricula in circo sunt.
The races are in the circus.
Curriculum is neuter, so the plural ends in -a.
Formulae in libro sunt.
The rules are in the book.
Formula is a first declension noun, so the plural ends in -ae.

Treating a neuter noun in -um like a masculine noun in -us.
Curriculi in circo sunt.
Curricula in circo sunt.
Curriculum is neuter, so its plural ends in -a. Curriculi is a different form: of the race.
Giving radius the neuter plural.
Radia in rota sunt.
Radii in rota sunt.
Radius is masculine, so its plural is radii.

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Latin Plurals in EnglishLevel 2

English keeps some Latin plurals, so plural nouns and neuter plurals come first.

alumnusdatumformulacurriculumradius

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