What's the plural of Prius?
International Herald Tribune has a fun article trying to figure out how to refer to multiple Prius vehicles. It could be Priora because Prius is a "neuter nominative/accusative singular of the adjective prior." It could also be Prioria because "adjectives of the third declension belong to the i-stem declension" (Don't ask me to explain that). Priora means the car is masculine or feminine but if cars are women, then it's Priores. Other candidates include Prii, Prix and Priapic. I think I will stick with Priuses.
Related:
[Source: International Herald Tribune]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fred 1:06PM (12/31/2007)
Nope, the correct plural of Prius is Prii
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Yanquetino 1:15PM (12/31/2007)
Yeah: if the plural of octopus is octopi, then prius should be prii. I would vote for Prix, however, because it fits so nicely with the old joke:
Q: What's the difference between a Prius and a porcupine?
A: The porcupine has the pricks on the outside.
Hyuck, hyuck.
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Alex Nunez 1:27PM (12/31/2007)
I've also heard some say that the plural of Prius is, well, Prius. Like deer.
"A herd of Prius crossed in front of us, and we had to wait for them to pass before continuing."
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GoodCheer 1:42PM (12/31/2007)
I would think it would follow the convention for the plurals of words ending in -us like
radius -> radii
syllabus -> syllabi
focus -> foci (take not Ford owners...)
so
Prius -> Prii
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Lascelles Linton 2:02PM (12/31/2007)
What about Priuss :D
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Benjamin Jones 3:28PM (12/31/2007)
Well, you have to consider that english is a very annoying language in this sense, since plurals here are affected by the root languages and a bunch of BS, I should think.
What do japanese people say? Prius-tachi? I imagine it would just be prius, ne? But then I've heard people say prii for a few years...
-------
Benjamin Jones
http://ecomodder.com
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Anthony 4:08PM (12/31/2007)
well I'm part of a Prius club called the LA Club of Prii... anyway, a similar question beckons: what is the plural of virus, viruses or virii?
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Anthony 4:10PM (12/31/2007)
oh, and does anyone know what opera is the plural of?
opus... or so my brother tells me
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Gina 7:22PM (1/01/2008)
+1 for Prii. Now that's settled :)
For extra credit: What's the collective noun? You know, like a "covey" of quail, a "brace" of pheasants, etc. A friend of mine claims that it's a "battery" of Prii.
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 8:58AM (1/02/2008)
No, it's not Prii. Prius is not a Latin word.
Like other proper names, many loan words, and just plain weird words, the plural is made regular: Priuses.
It's like the Ford Focus and Taurus. A formal document would term them Focuses and Tauruses.
But language will do whatever language will do--it lives and changes. Enthusiast communities, and those who like to play with words, will undoubtedly continue to refer to them as Prii, Foci, and Taurii. I kind of like that. ;)
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jwer 1:32PM (1/02/2008)
Um, International HAROLD Tribune???
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 1:41PM (1/02/2008)
Um, don't YOU mean H-E-R-A-L-D? ;)
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Lascelles Linton 2:43PM (1/02/2008)
Jwer, Fixed. Thanks :D
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Chris M 9:00PM (1/02/2008)
All of those are potential plurals except for "Priapic", which refers to being like an aroused erect portion of the male anatomy.
Hmm how did that sneak in there?
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bloodnok 10:45PM (1/02/2008)
funny, i was looking for the plural this morning after observing what a bunch of prats prius drivers are, especially those smug dorks with a california commuter lane access sticker on their bumper. only it wasn't busy on us101 this morning, but that didn't stop some bearded retard in a white prius from hogging the commute lane at a tad under 65mph. now granted those machines get better mileage at slower rates but if he wanted to drive slowly, mr prius turd could have selected another lane. traffic was moving along a brisk pace. as it was, i quickly left that particular idiot far behind - i wasn't speeding ...
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nahworry 3:59PM (1/03/2008)
It's like the article points out: if you stay true to the Latin language, Prii is out of the game.
The Japanese would just say, one Prius, two Prius, and so on. Priuses might be a conventional and accepted workaround, but Prii is simply pig latin, so, no way. ;)
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Rottiepaws 5:22PM (4/16/2008)
What I use, and in my opinion the only one that sounds right is "prius Vehicles" if referring to more than one Prius.
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Jane 11:39AM (9/22/2008)
The plural of Prius is Priapus.
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