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Plural of Baby

What Is the Plural of Baby?

The Quick Answer

The plural of "baby" is "babies."
The plural of "baby" is "babies."
  • Milk is for babies. When you grow up you have to drink beer. (Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger) correct tick
  • God looks out for fools and babies. (Singer Meshell Ndegeocello) correct tick
The noun "baby" adheres to the standard rules for forming the plurals of nouns in English (shown in the table below).

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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 lamp
scythe
add s lamps
scythes
Noun Ending s, sh, ch, x or z bus
dress
add es buses
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
baby
change the y to an i and add es stories
babies
Nouns ending [vowel] y valley
chimney
add s valleys
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
Read more about English spelling rules.

Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Baby?

"Babies" is the only way to make the noun "baby" plural.

Confusion arises because a noun that ends [vowel] + "y" (e.g., "donkey") forms its plural by adding just "s" (e.g., "donkeys").

Not Baby's

You cannot use "baby's" as the plural.

Read more about apostrophe abuse.
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.

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