# Are there any plural words that don't have a singular? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 17, 2000, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666 "2000-08-17T03:14:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/41 "2000-08-18T04:24:35Z")
Yes, “folk” is singular. It doesn’t refer to a single person, but to a single group of people. For instance, I might say that the Irish are a fun-loving folk, or I might say that the Irish and the Dutch are fun-loving folks. It’s one of those collective nouns I mentioned earlier. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/42 "2000-08-18T04:43:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chronos \* > \*\*Yes, “folk” is singular. It doesn’t refer to a single person, but to a single group of people. For instance, I might say that the Irish are a fun-loving folk, or I might say that the Irish and the Dutch are fun-loving folks. It’s one of those collective nouns I mentioned earlier. \*\* OK, but that’s a different usage than what I was originally thinking of. When I talk about my folks, I mean my parents. But if I’m just talking about one of them, I can’t refer to him/her as my folk. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/43 "2000-08-18T07:47:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Whoosh. > > Welcome to the board, ed. Name’s not ed, but nice ta meetcha anyways, connery…er…conman…whatever… Is **smegma** singular or plural or does it even matter? Wait, I can answer that last part… ---
**Author:** ![KenP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c0e974/32.png) [@KenP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KenP)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/44 "2000-08-18T10:30:11Z")
Congratulations ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/45 "2000-08-18T13:13:31Z")
An opposing thought… There’s no plural for Phoenix. _b-dum - tish!_ ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/46 "2000-08-18T13:33:19Z")
Fish can be a plural, but fishes is also a plural, and it is used when you have various species of fish together, or is that “various species of fishes”? ---
**Author:** ![ThreeLeggedBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ThreeLeggedBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThreeLeggedBob)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/47 "2000-08-18T18:18:45Z")
Scissors. ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/48 "2000-08-18T18:30:51Z")
In Texas I understand there is “y’all” of which the plural is remarkably “all y’all”. I’ll now return to my hole… ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/49 "2000-08-18T23:56:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by E d’Mann \* > [BIs **smegma** singular or plural or does it even matter? Wait, I can answer that last part… > \*\* I’m single. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/50 "2000-08-18T23:59:29Z")
> [@](#): > > In the case of data, though, while it has an English singular, it’s so rarely used as to be almost a nonword. I first encountered the word data over 25 years ago (when I studied data processing in school) and in that time I don’t believe I’ve ever heard the word datum used as its singular or heard data used with a plural verb. I’ve seen it written with a plural verb many times, but this is the result of the house rules of various publishers. FWIW, I live with the word “data” on a daily basis and am surrounded by its use. In my experience it is treated as a plural. And I see and hear the singular “datum” used as well. I will note, though, that my dictionary has a parenthetical note: (_often construed as singular_). ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/51 "2000-08-19T00:17:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GuanoLad \* > \*\*An opposing thought… > > There’s no plural for Phoenix. > > _b-dum - tish!_ > \*\* Phoenices. Also, the plural of sphinx is sphinges. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/52 "2000-08-19T00:17:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by beatle \* > FWIW, I live with the word “data” on a daily basis and am surrounded by its use. In my experience it is treated as a plural. And I see and hear the singular “datum” used as well. I will note, though, that my dictionary has a parenthetical note: (_often construed as singular_). Let me guess. Are you a scientist? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/53 "2000-08-19T00:18:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lee \* > \*\*debris \*\* Seeing as how the “s” is silent, I think that is a singular noun. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/54 "2000-08-19T02:30:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by matt\_mcl \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by GuanoLad \* > > \*\*An opposing thought… > > > > There’s no plural for Phoenix. > > > > _b-dum - tish!_ > > \*\* > > Phoenices. > > Also, the plural of sphinx is sphinges. \*\* Thanks for missing the point. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/55 "2000-08-19T02:37:39Z")
By definition, there is only one of the mythical bird Phoenix. Now if somebody goes and names a car or something “Phoenix”… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/56 "2000-08-19T03:13:41Z")
If the plural of index is indices, does that make the plural of ibex ibices? Here’s a for–real weird plural. I used to think that he plural of octopus was “octopi”, until someone who actually worked with the eight-tentacled beasts told me the plural is really “octopodes” or “octopuses”. I looked t up in the Oxford English dictionary, and it’s true. "octopus isn’t second declension, but fourth declension irregular. In a similar vein, a friend tried to stump me by asking the plural of “opus”. Again, it isn’t wha you’d think (“opi”?). But I new the right answer this time – it’s “opera”. And now you know where THAT came from. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/57 "2000-08-19T03:42:20Z")
Opus/opera…that one will stay with me; that was good, Cal, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/58 "2000-08-19T06:43:08Z")
Here’s another stumper: The word “wrought” is past tense of another English word. Which one? And one that’s (hopefully) a bit easier: what’s the present tense of “sought”? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/59 "2000-08-19T06:54:39Z")
I’m (educated) guessing **wreak** and **seek**. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666/60 "2000-08-19T06:59:00Z")
Oh, and while we’re off the subject… When you say “ **It** is raining,” what noun does the pronoun “ **it** ” replace? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-plural-words-that-dont-have-a-singular/29666.md?page=4)