Plural of Glasses

The Quick Answer

Use "pair of glasses" for the singular and "pairs of glasses" for the plural.

The Plural of Glasses

"Glasses" (meaning spectacles) is always a plural word. It has no specific plural form. We put "pair of" or "pairs of" in front of the word "glasses" to give it its singular and plural form.

For example:
  • One pair of glasses
  • Two pairs of glasses
  • Most of my childhood is a big blur, 'cause I needed better glasses. correct tick
  • I look most like myself when I'm wearing my black, nerdy engineering glasses. correct tick

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 cat
scythe
add s cats
scythes
Noun Ending s, sh, ch, x or z bus
dress
add es buses
dresses
Nouns ending [consonant] o mango
zero
tomato
add either s or es
(There are no rules for this - you have to know.)
mangoes or mangos
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 storey (small British flag)
donkey
add s storeys
donkeys
Nouns ending f or fe dwarf
knife
ves and/or s
(There are no rules - you have to know.)
dwarfs
knives
Exceptions goose
louse
some nouns undergo a vowel or letters change geese
lice
More exceptions salmon
glasses
some nouns do not change at all salmon
glasses
Read more about English spelling rules.

Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of "Glasses"?

Confusion arises because "glasses" is always plural (even if it's just one pair of glasses). The word has no plural form to denote two pairs of glasses.
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.