Plural of Larva

The Quick Answer

The plural of "larva" is "larvae."

The Plural of Larva

The plural of "larva" is "larvae."
  • Larvae are constantly feeding since maturation requires a huge amount of energy and food. correct tick
  • Moisture is essential for the survival of flea larvae. correct tick
The noun "larva" has a Latin root, which is the derivation of the plural "larvae."

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The Standard Rules for Forming the Plurals

The table below shows the standard rules for forming the plurals of nouns in English.
Type Example of Type Forming the Plural Plural
Most Nouns kitten
scythe
add s kittens
scythes
Noun Ending s, sh, ch, x or z box
dress
add es boxes
dresses
Nouns ending [consonant] o hero
zero
tomato
add either s or es
(There are no rules for this - you have to know.)
heroes
zeros
tomatoes
Nouns ending [vowel] o patio
ratio
add s patios
ratios
Nouns ending [consonant] y story
penny
change the y to an i and add es stories
pennies
Nouns ending [vowel] y donkey
chimney
add s donkeys
chimneys
Nouns ending f or fe dwarf
hoof
ves and/or s
(There are no rules - you have to know.)
dwarfs
hooves or hoofs
Exceptions man
louse
some nouns undergo a vowel or letters change men
lice
More exceptions salmon
sheep
some nouns do not change at all salmon
sheep
Foreign rulings larva
medium
some nouns adopt foreign rulings larvae
media
Read more about English spelling rules.

Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Larva?

Confusion arises over the plural of "larva" because its plural form ("larvae") derives from Latin and native English speakers feel compelled to write "larvas." The "larvas" is considered a mistake. (See the evidence in Google's Ngram Viewer.)
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.