Singular and Plural Forms of a Word
In standard English, we often indicate a plural by adding an “s” onto the end of a word (plural | plurals). Sometimes we even change a “–y” to an “–ies” to form a plural (candy | candies). We see this in Medical English as well.
| Singular | Plural |
| candy
biopsy capillary myopathy necropsy ovary |
candies
biopsies capillaries myopathies necropsies ovaries |
In Medical English, we sometimes take the plural ending from the original language (typically, Greek or Latin). Thus one bacterium but many bacteria.
In the table below, we have grouped the words by word ending. The left column shows the singular form of the word; the right column the plural form. At this point, you don’t need to learn the meanings of the words (but you can if you want); just recognize the pattern of the word ending and its plural form.
| Singular | Plural |
| alveolus
bronchus canaliculus glomerulus homunculus microvillus nevus nucleus nucleolus plexus stimulus thrombus villus |
alveoli
bronchi canaliculi glomeruli homunculi microvilli nevi nuclei nucleoli plexi stimuli thrombi villi |
| ampulla
bursa chorda concha fimbria lacuna lamella larva lunula macula papilla petechia pleura plica scapula sequela tendina vertebra |
ampullae
bursae chordae conchae fimbriae lacunae lamellae larvae lunulae maculae papillae petechiae plurae plicae scapulae sequelae tendinae vertebrae |
| aponeurosis
cystocentesis diagnosis epididymis iris mycosis necrosis neurosis testis xanthosis |
aponeuroses
cystocenteses diagnoses epididymides irides mycoses necroses neuroses testes xanthoses |
| appendix
cicatrix cortex thorax |
appendices
cicatrices cortices* thoraces |
| atrium
bacterium brachium cilium flagellum haustrum ovum pericardium periostium proprium |
atria
bacteria brachia cilia flagella haustra ova pericardia periostea propria |
| ganglion
mitochondrion |
ganglia
mitochondria |
| spermatozoon | spermatozoa |
| carcinoma
sarcoma |
carcinomata
sarcomata |
*this does not follow the pattern. I don’t know why.
