This piece on assumed Latin plurals is full of fascinating and
informative facts--some trivial, some less so; but I think all
those of you who love words will enjoy it. It is also quite
funny. So..."What IS the plural of penis?" And, the advanced
question, "What is the plural of virus?" And, the $64,000
question [feel free to adjust for inflation], "What would the
actual Latin plural of virus be?" Read on.... What is the plural
of "penis"? 13-Jan-2004Dear Straight Dope: What exactly is the
plural of penis? I would say penises, but it seems too simple
and obvious. Is it penis, like deer, or maybe peni, like fungi?
--Sissy, Emerald Isle, NC SDSTAFF bibliophage replies: If you
have more than one, you should be writing to Ripley's and not to
the Straight Dope. Heck, Sissy, if you have even one, the first
thing you should do is change your name to Buddy. In this case,
your first instinct is a good one. The English-style plural is
usually acceptable and often preferred. When you don't know what
the Latin plural is