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Plural of Larva
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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.
- Moisture is essential for the survival of flea larvae.
Are You Good at Plurals?
Here's a quick test.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 |
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.)Another Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from another exercise on plurals, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?