Toyota Prius: Is Plural of Prius Prii? Wife & I have 2 Prius; now my In-laws have 1

noemail wrote: 

IMNVHO the plural of Prius is Priuses.

Paul

Paul Russell <net> wrote:
 

Yes, seriously. A Latin word ending in -ius is properly pluralized as
-ii. For example, the plural of radius is radii.* Prius is a made-up
name, not a Latin word, so standard pluralization applies, hence the
plural is Priuses. It does sound odd, though.

*Many dictionaries accept "radiuses" as an alternative plural form.

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<noemail> wrote in message
news:com... 

I like the solution somebody else came up with: Prius cars.

On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:56:47 -0700, "Michael Pardee"
<com> wrote:
 

Prius cars are the Priust !

Mike Rosenberg wrote: 

Since we're both right about this I guess it makes us a pair of geniuses.

Paul

On Jun 21, 4:59 pm, noemail wrote: 

<sigh> My original response seems to have been eaten by gremlins...
I hope I find all of my source material again...

Toyota officials have said that Prius is used singular or plural,
similar to the like of sheep or fish or deer.
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/toyotaprius/message/3576
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/toyotaprius/message/753

The Latin root of "prius" is "prior," which is a 3rd declension
comparitive adjective. "Prius" is the 3rd declension neuter nomitive/
accusitive form, so the plural of "prius" is either "priora" (neuter)
or "priores" (m/f). Latin 3rd declension adjectives in the nominative/
accusitive form (such as "prius") can also be a comparitive adverb,
which have no plural.
http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookup.pl?stem=prior&ending=
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_declension

However, many people are much more used to the usual pluralization of
2nd declension nouns, where -us is changed to -i. See: cactus ->
cacti, fungus -> fungi. Hence, the common usage of the plural of
Prius to be "Prii." But, not every word follows in that fashion...
For example, the correct plural of octopus is octopuses, although some
still like to use octopi. (Same goes for hippopotamus ->
hippopotamuses (and not hippopotami).)
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutgrammar/plurals?view=uk
(BTW: for Latin 4th declension nouns ending in -us, their plual is
also -us (long u)...)

Do note that "prius" is not a verb, as Toyota claims ("to go before"),
and actually translates to before, formerly...
(http://toyota.custhelp.com/ (Toyota FAQ site) and search for "model
names")

Following regular English pluralization rules, the plural of "Prius"
would be "Priuses."

Some also believe that "Prius" is a proper name/trademark, and so
should be used as an adjective. One Prius car, two Prius cars, one
Prius tire, four Prius tires. Like SPAM luncheon meat or LEGO blocks
or Scotch cellophane tape.

Whatever plural form you choose, we can usually figure out what you
mean. Everyone seems to have their favorite version...

Mike Rosenberg wrote: 

Were you there when I got flamed by the pompous ignoramuses* who seem
to think that "Unix" is Latin and that the plural ought to be
"Unices!?"

You know these folks are pompous asses because they choose Latin
(though they know nothing of it,) thinking it makes them appear
learned. One wonders why they don't choose one of the other languages
in which Prius is not a word (that could be any language.) Why not
Hebrew? Is it masculine "priusim" or feminine "priusot?" (Sorry, no
majuscules in Hebrew.) But forget about Thai and a bunch of other Asian
languages that have /no/ plurals.

Davoud

Owner of a Prius, fan of Prius automobiles.

* That's not "ignorami" because "ignoramus" is not a Latin noun; it's a
Latin verb.

--
usenet *at* davidillig *dawt* com

Davoud <net> wrote:
 

It sounds familiar. I always thought the plural was "flavors of Unix".
;-)

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