Plural of Ox

The Quick Answer

The plural of "ox" is "oxen."

The Plural of Ox

The plural of "ox" is "oxen."
  • Oxen are thought to have first been harnessed and put to work around 4000 BC. correct tick
  • Steers are not regarded as fully grown until the age of 4, when they become known as oxen. correct tick
In English, most words ending in x will form their plural by adding -es to the word. The noun "ox" is an exception to this ruling. It has a Germanic root, which is the derivation of the plural "oxen." After the 14th century, many words began to adopt the -s and -es way of forming plurals. Today, only a few en-forms survive; the most common are oxen and children.

Table of Contents

  • Are You Good at Plurals?
  • The Standard Rules for Forming the Plurals
  • Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Ox?
  • Ready for the Test?
plural of ox

Are You Good at Plurals?

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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 dog
scythe
add s dogs
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 - 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 ox
medium
some nouns adopt foreign rulings oxen
media
Read more about English spelling rules.

Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Ox?

Confusion arises over the plural of "ox" ("oxen") because it derives from German. Native English speakers are drawn to "oxes," which adheres to the standard ruling for forming plurals.

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This page was written by Craig Shrives.