English pluralization follows numerous patterns, but one of the most distinctive involves nouns ending with specific consonant sounds. While most English nouns simply add an “s” to form their plural version, certain word endings require special treatment to maintain pronunciation clarity and phonetic harmony.
Nouns ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -ss, -x, and -z require the addition of “-es” rather than just “-s” when forming their plurals. This spelling rule serves a phonetic purpose – it creates a buffer syllable that makes these plurals easier to pronounce and more pleasing to the ear.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the complete patterns, rules, exceptions, and extensive examples of how these special-case nouns behave in English grammar.
Why Add -ES Instead of Just -S?
The addition of “-es” to certain nouns creates an extra syllable that makes pronunciation smoother. Let’s understand this concept through examples:
- The word “church” becomes “churches” (not “churchs”)
- The word “bus” becomes “buses” (not “buss”)
- The word “box” becomes “boxes” (not “boxs”)
Without this extra vowel sound, these plurals would create awkward consonant clusters that native English speakers find difficult to pronounce fluently.
Complete Guide to Nouns Ending in -CH
Nouns ending in -ch form their plurals by adding -es. This pattern applies to both soft ch sounds (as in “church”) and hard ch sounds (as in “monarch”).
Examples of Nouns Ending in -CH
| Singular | Plural | Meaning/Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Church | Churches | A religious building or congregation |
| Peach | Peaches | A sweet, juicy fruit with fuzzy skin |
| Witch | Witches | A person believed to possess magical powers |
| Torch | Torches | A portable light source, often using flame |
| Branch | Branches | A division of a tree or organization |
| Sandwich | Sandwiches | Food consisting of ingredients between bread slices |
| Bench | Benches | A long seat for multiple people |
| Coach | Coaches | A trainer or large passenger vehicle |
| Approach | Approaches | A method of dealing with something |
| Pitch | Pitches | A playing field or the degree of sound frequency |
| Speech | Speeches | A formal address or verbal communication |
| Ostrich | Ostriches | A large flightless bird |
| Research | Researches | Systematic investigation into a subject |
| Spinach | Spinaches | A leafy green vegetable |
| March | Marches | The third month or a formal, rhythmic walk |
Special Cases and Exceptions
- Stomach: The plural is “stomachs” (not “stomaches”)
- Monarch: The plural is “monarchs” (not “monarches”)
- Patriarch: The plural is “patriarchs” (not “patriarches”)
These exceptions generally involve compound words where “-ch” is part of a larger Greek or Latin root word rather than a basic English word ending.
Complete Guide to Nouns Ending in -S
Nouns ending in -s add -es to form their plurals, creating an additional syllable that helps distinguish the plural form from the singular.
Examples of Nouns Ending in -S
| Singular | Plural | Meaning/Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Buses | A large vehicle for passenger transport |
| Lens | Lenses | An optical device that focuses or disperses light |
| Atlas | Atlases | A collection of maps or charts |
| Oasis | Oases* | A fertile spot in a desert |
| Virus | Viruses | An infectious agent |
| Circus | Circuses | An entertainment company with clowns and acrobats |
| Campus | Campuses | The grounds and buildings of a university |
| Corpus | Corpora* | A collection of written texts |
| Octopus | Octopuses/Octopi* | A sea creature with eight arms |
| Gas | Gases | A state of matter; an air-like fluid substance |
| Bias | Biases | A prejudice or inclination toward something |
| Iris | Irises | The colored part of the eye or a type of flower |
| Census | Censuses | An official population count |
| Diagnosis | Diagnoses* | Identification of a medical condition |
| Analysis | Analyses* | Detailed examination of elements or structure |
*Note: Some words ending in -s follow Latin or Greek pluralization rules instead of the English -es pattern.
Latin and Greek Exceptions
Many scientific and academic terms retain their original Latin or Greek plural forms:
| Singular | Traditional Plural | Anglicized Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis | Theses | – |
| Crisis | Crises | – |
| Axis | Axes | – |
| Basis | Bases | – |
| Oasis | Oases | – |
| Hypothesis | Hypotheses | – |
| Parenthesis | Parentheses | – |
| Diagnosis | Diagnoses | – |
| Analysis | Analyses | – |
| Octopus | Octopodes* | Octopuses |
*Technically, “octopi” is a hypercorrection since octopus comes from Greek, not Latin. The most linguistically accurate plural would be “octopodes,” though “octopuses” is the most commonly accepted form in modern English.
Complete Guide to Nouns Ending in -SH
Words ending in -sh add -es to form their plurals. This creates an additional syllable that makes the word easier to pronounce.
Examples of Nouns Ending in -SH
| Singular | Plural | Meaning/Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Bush | Bushes | A plant with many woody branches |
| Dish | Dishes | A shallow container for food |
| Fish | Fishes/Fish* | Aquatic animals with gills |
| Wish | Wishes | A desire or hope for something |
| Brush | Brushes | A tool with bristles |
| Flash | Flashes | A brief, sudden burst of light |
| Clash | Clashes | A conflict or disagreement |
| Dash | Dashes | A small amount; a punctuation mark |
| Trash | Trashes | Discarded matter; garbage |
| Hash | Hashes | A dish of chopped meat and potatoes |
| Splash | Splashes | Scattered liquid |
| Parish | Parishes | An ecclesiastical district |
| Vanish | Vanishes | To disappear |
| Flourish | Flourishes | A bold or extravagant gesture |
| Diminish | Diminishes | To make or become less |
*Note: “Fish” can remain unchanged when referring to multiple fish of the same species, while “fishes” is used when referring to multiple species of fish.
Complete Guide to Nouns Ending in -SS
Words ending in -ss follow the same pattern as other sibilant endings, adding -es to form their plurals. This creates a clearer distinction between singular and plural forms.
Examples of Nouns Ending in -SS
| Singular | Plural | Meaning/Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Glass | Glasses | A drinking vessel or eyewear |
| Class | Classes | A group of students or category |
| Dress | Dresses | A one-piece garment for women |
| Boss | Bosses | A person in charge |
| Kiss | Kisses | A touch with the lips |
| Loss | Losses | The fact or process of losing something |
| Mass | Masses | A large amount or a religious ceremony |
| Toss | Tosses | A throw or pitch |
| Carcass | Carcasses | The dead body of an animal |
| Process | Processes | A series of actions or steps |
| Fortress | Fortresses | A heavily protected building |
| Hostess | Hostesses | A woman who hosts guests |
| Express | Expresses | To convey or a fast transport system |
| Impress | Impresses | To affect strongly |
| Confess | Confesses | To admit to something |
Usage Notes for -SS Nouns
Unlike some other categories, nouns ending in -ss have very few exceptions. The -es ending creates a new syllable that clearly distinguishes the plural form and makes these words easier to pronounce. For instance:
- “One glass, two glasses” (not “glasss”)
- “A single process, multiple processes” (not “processs”)
This consistent pattern makes -ss nouns relatively straightforward compared to other categories in this guide.
Complete Guide to Nouns Ending in -X
Nouns ending in -x typically add -es to form their plurals. However, this category has some interesting exceptions, particularly with words of Latin and Greek origin.
Examples of Nouns Ending in -X
| Singular | Plural | Meaning/Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Boxes | A container with a flat base and sides |
| Fox | Foxes | A wild carnivorous mammal |
| Tax | Taxes | A compulsory financial charge |
| Fax | Faxes | A document sent via facsimile machine |
| Wax | Waxes | A solid, heat-sensitive substance |
| Complex | Complexes | A group of buildings or intricate structure |
| Index | Indexes/Indices* | A list or registry |
| Matrix | Matrices* | An array of numbers or situation |
| Vertex | Vertices* | The highest point or a corner |
| Apex | Apices* | The top or highest part |
| Suffix | Suffixes | A word ending |
| Prefix | Prefixes | A word beginning |
| Climax | Climaxes | The most intense point |
| Lynx | Lynxes | A wild cat with tufted ears |
| Sphinx | Sphinxes | A mythological creature |
Latin and Scientific Exceptions
Many scientific and technical terms maintain their classical Latin pluralization:
| Singular | Traditional Plural | Anglicized Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Appendix | Appendices | Appendixes |
| Codex | Codices | Codexes |
| Index | Indices | Indexes |
| Vertex | Vertices | Vertexes (rare) |
| Matrix | Matrices | Matrixes (rare) |
| Helix | Helices | Helixes |
| Vortex | Vortices | Vortexes |
| Apex | Apices | Apexes |
| Cortex | Cortices | Cortexes |
| Larynx | Larynges | Larynxes |
In many cases, the traditional Latin plural is preferred in scientific and academic contexts, while the Anglicized form might be more common in everyday usage.
Complete Guide to Nouns Ending in -Z
Words ending in -z also add -es to form their plurals. This is one of the less common endings in English, but the pattern remains consistent.
Examples of Nouns Ending in -Z
| Singular | Plural | Meaning/Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Quiz | Quizzes* | A test of knowledge |
| Buzz | Buzzes* | A humming sound |
| Fez | Fezzes* | A type of hat |
| Waltz | Waltzes | A type of dance |
| Whiz | Whizzes* | A person with exceptional skill |
| Blitz | Blitzes | A sudden attack |
| Topaz | Topazes | A gemstone |
| Spitz | Spitzes | A breed of dog |
| Chesteritz | Chesteritzes | A chess opening |
| Cruz | Cruzes | A Hispanic surname used as a noun |
| Schultz | Schultzes | A German surname used as a noun |
| Jazz | Jazzes | A music style (rarely pluralized) |
| Quartz | Quartzes | A mineral |
| Chintz | Chintzes | A printed cotton fabric |
| Hertz | Hertzes | A unit of frequency |
*Note: Words ending in a single -z often double the ‘z’ before adding -es.
Special Rule: Doubling the Z
Unlike other endings covered in this guide, many words ending in a single -z require doubling the final letter before adding -es:
- Quiz → Quizzes (not “Quizes”)
- Buzz → Buzzes (not “Buzes”)
- Fez → Fezzes (not “Fezes”)
This pattern follows the general English spelling rule of doubling a final consonant when it follows a short vowel sound.
