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Plural of Rhinoceros
The Quick Answer
The plural of "rhinoceros" is "rhinoceros" or "rhinoceroses."The Plural of Rhinoceros
The original and most common plural of "rhinoceros" is "rhinoceros," but "rhinoceroses," which adheres to the standard rules for forming plurals in English, is also commonly used.- Weighing around 600kg, Sumatran rhinoceros are the smallest. White rhinoceros are the largest, weighing up to 3,500kg.
- Male rhinoceroses are called "bulls" and female rhinoceroses are called "cows." Their young are "calves."
Table of Contents
- Are You Good at Plurals?
- The Standard Rules for Forming the Plurals
- Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Rhinoceros?
- Ready for the Test?

What about "Rhinoceri"?
The noun "rhinoceros" has a Greek root. More specifically, it comes from the Greek word "rhinokeros" (nose-horned), which is an amalgam of "rhis" (nose) and "keras" (horn). As "rhinoceros" derives from Greek, there is no justification for the plural "rhinoceri," which would be a Latin-style plural.What about "Rhinocerotes"?
In recognition of its Greek root, some academics opt for the plural "rhinocerotes," but, put simply, this is not an English word. It is not the English plural of "rhinoceros."What about "Rhino"?
The word "rhino" is a common alternative for "rhinoceros." With "rhino," there is no debate. The plural is "rhinos." If your text is informal enough to use "rhinos," go for it. Easy life.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 | ![]() ![]() |
add s | ![]() ![]() |
Noun Ending s, sh, ch, x or z | ![]() ![]() |
add es | ![]() ![]() |
Nouns ending [consonant] o | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
add either s or es (There are no rules for this - you have to know.) |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Nouns ending [vowel] o | ![]() ![]() |
add s | ![]() ![]() |
Nouns ending [consonant] y | ![]() ![]() |
change the y to an i and add es | ![]() ![]() |
Nouns ending [vowel] y | ![]() ![]() |
add s | ![]() ![]() |
Nouns ending f or fe | ![]() ![]() |
ves and/or s (There are no rules - you have to know.) |
![]() ![]() |
Exceptions | ![]() ![]() |
some nouns undergo a vowel or letters change | ![]() ![]() |
More exceptions | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
some nouns do not change at all | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Foreign rulings | ![]() ![]() |
some nouns adopt foreign rulings | ![]() ![]() |
Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Rhinoceros?
Confusion arises over the plural of "rhinoceros" because the erroneously assigned Latin plural "rhinoceri" grew in popularity, most probably because it sounds funny and clever. The original plural of "rhinoceros" was simply "rhinoceros" (i.e., no change), but native English speakers are more drawn to "rhinoceroses," which adheres to the standard ruling for forming plurals."Rhinoceros" is more common than "rhinoceroses." [evidence]
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