# Halibut
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
**Created:** [November 11, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569 "2011-11-11T04:25:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/21 "2011-11-13T20:39:56Z")
“Octopuses”, “octopi” (because the word entered English via Latin) and “octopodes” (because the Latin word is based on Greek οκτοπους) are all acceptable, but “octopuses” is normal English. In particular, “octopodes” is not a scientific term, although “octopoda” is, as the name of the order.
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### Author:  [@surrounded\_by\_literalists](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/surrounded_by_literalists)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/22 "2011-11-14T03:24:25Z")
> [@opticsverity](#):
>
> “Sharks, barracudas, stingrays, jellyfish, sea urchins, octopuses, squid, moray eels, piranha, our little friend the candiru …”
>
> The plural of octopus is octopode not octopuses, octopuses is the common pluralization in the UK and US but octopode is the proper designated pluralization in accordance to biological terminology.
I thought octopode was was the genus, not the plural? I would always go with octopi for the plural since octopuses is too much like octopussy, which causes way to much snickering in mixed company.
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### Author:  [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/23 "2011-11-14T04:39:16Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#):
>
> They don’t \*have \*to. They do it just for the halibut.
It’s their porpoise in life.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2011, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/24 "2011-11-14T06:30:41Z")
When a word is adopted into English from another language, it’s acceptable to pluralize it either according to the rules of its parent language, or according to the standard English rules, as the speaker prefers. Some are usually seen in their parent language’s form (“bacteria”, not “bacteriums”), some are usually seen in their English form (“forums”, not “fora”), and some are frequently seen in either (“cherubs” or “cherubim”).
The specific cases of “octopus” and “platypus” are peculiar, in that they come from Latin, but are not declined in that language in the way one might naively expect: They’re both 3rd declension rather than second, in deference to their Greek origins, meaning that the -i plural is not correct for them in Latin. In both cases, the -i plural is still common enough in English usage to be listed in most dictionaries, but its use is probably ill-advised, as it labels the speaker as being both pedantic _and_ ignorant, a particularly bad combination.
In any event, though, no sound objection can be made to “octopuses”, since it is both correct and widely-recognized.
And as a side note, I’m surprised and a little disappointed that Cecil didn’t find a way to work the “just for the halibut” joke into the column somewhere. Yes, it’s corny, but Tradition, man, Tradition.
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### Author:  [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/25 "2011-11-14T18:43:34Z")
> [@surrounded\_by\_literalists](#):
>
> I thought octopode was was the genus, not the plural? I would always go with octopi for the plural since octopuses is too much like octopussy, which causes way to much snickering in mixed company.
There are a good many genuses of octopus, contained within several families. “Octopoda” is the name of the order. There is no such word as “octopode” at all. Sometimes “octopods” (singular “octopod”) is used as an English version of “octopoda”.
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### Author:  [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/26 "2011-11-14T21:03:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> The specific cases of “octopus” and “platypus” are peculiar, in that they come from Latin, but are not declined in that language in the way one might naively expect: They’re both 3rd declension rather than second, in deference to their Greek origins, meaning that the -i plural is not correct for them in Latin. In both cases, the -i plural is still common enough in English usage to be listed in most dictionaries, but its use is probably ill-advised, as it labels the speaker as being both pedantic _and_ ignorant, a particularly bad combination.
Of course there’s the possibility that the speaker is quite aware of the above facts but says “octopi” anyway because they like playing around with language. They’ll also say “stewardi” as a plural of “stewardess” for the same reason. Doing this irritates language pedants, which is another reason to do it.
> [@](#):
>
> And as a side note, I’m surprised and a little disappointed that Cecil didn’t find a way to work the “just for the halibut” joke into the column somewhere. Yes, it’s corny, but Tradition, man, Tradition.
Apparently, there’s some jokes that are just too hackneyed even for Cecil. Hard to believe, but there it is.
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### Author:  [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/27 "2011-11-14T21:40:20Z")
> [@dtilque](#):
>
> Apparently, there’s some jokes that are just too hackneyed even for Cecil. Hard to believe, but there it is.
Holy mackerel, are you saying it is a crappie pun?
> [@dtilque](#):
>
> They’ll also say “stewardi” as a plural of “stewardess” for the same reason.
I bet they didn’t learn that while perched at their desks in a school.
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### Author:  [@Lestrade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lestrade)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/28 "2011-11-15T20:23:54Z")
Whee, an opportunity to post one of my favorite videos, Merriam-Webster Ask the Editor the plural of octopus: [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFyY2mK8pxk)
Don’t be an ignorant slob.
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### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/29 "2011-11-15T22:26:16Z")
I’ve heard octopuses referred to as just “octopus” in the offscreen narration in some documentaries. I think it was a compromise because the writer didn’t like the sound of the available options.
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### Author:  [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/30 "2011-11-16T00:40:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> And as a side note, I’m surprised and a little disappointed that Cecil didn’t find a way to work the “just for the halibut” joke into the column somewhere. Yes, it’s corny, but Tradition, man, Tradition.
I suggested it. Cecil felt like it was somewhat shopworn.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/31 "2011-11-16T01:03:16Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#):
>
> New “incarnation” of what?
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#):
>
> I don’t know what “incarnation” means
I figure TSBG is suggesting Cecil Adams periodically transforms himself like Doctor Who. Those of you who are companions of the current Cecil should watch out.
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### Author:  [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/32 "2011-11-16T03:22:00Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> I figure TSBG is suggesting Cecil Adams periodically transforms himself like Doctor Who. Those of you who are companions of the current Cecil should watch out.
I like that comparison!
If it were true, then Ed to me seems to be most similar to Christopher Eccleston.
I guess I’m most similar to Sarah Jane. Dex is probably Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.
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### Author:  [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halibut/602569/33 "2011-11-16T04:14:47Z")
When the idea of _Doctor Who_ and the idea of Michael Moorcock met in my head just now, I think I asploded
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