What is the Correct Plural Of Tooth?
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Key Takeaways:
- The plural of “tooth” is “teeth.”
- “Tooth” is a countable noun
- The irregular pluralization causes confusion but follows Germanic language rules
Other plurals you may want to know:
Is The Plural of Tooth “Tooths” or “Teeth”?
The plural of “tooth” is “teeth,” not “tooths”
Forming the Plural of Tooth
Like some irregular plurals in English, the fact that the plural of “tooth” is “teeth” and not “tooths” is from very old English and its German roots. Though confusing today, these strange plurals show how English developed over time.
Other examples include:
- Mouse/mice
- Goose/geese
- Man/men
So while it may seem strange, the plural of “tooth” is “teeth.” You would say “the child has lost three teeth” rather than “tooths.”
Is Tooth Plural Possessive?
No, ‘teeth’ is not the plural possessive form.
The word “teeth” just describes more than one tooth. To show something belongs to the teeth, we add an ‘s.’
The plural possessive form would be ‘teeth’s’, which shows that the teeth belong to someone or something. For example:
- She brushed her teeth’s front surfaces well.
In this example, ‘teeth’s’ indicates that the front surfaces being referred to belong to the teeth.
So in summary:
- ‘Teeth’ is just the plural of ‘tooth’
- ‘Teeth’s’ is the plural possessive, showing the teeth belong to someone/something
Why Is There Confusion Over The Plural Of Tooth?
English has some confusing plural rules. Most words get an “s”, but some like tooth are irregular. Let’s break down the standard guidelines for pluralization and how they apply to “tooth.”
Standard Rules for Forming Plurals
For most words, we add “s” or “es” to the singular form to make it plural:
- Cat becomes cats
- Bus becomes buses
However, some words have irregular plural forms. They don’t follow this pattern. They need to be memorized, like teeth.
Is Tooth A Countable Or Uncountable Noun?
“Tooth” can be a countable or uncountable noun:
- Countable: “I have thirty-two teeth.”
- Uncountable: “The dentist checked the health of my tooth enamel.”
When used in the countable sense, “tooth” takes on irregular pluralization rules.
Collective Noun For Tooth
The collective noun for “tooth,” is a set or row of teeth. Other suggestions could be:
- A “mouthful” of teeth
- A “grin” of teeth
- A “bite” of teeth
Plural Of Tooth Example Sentences
Here are some example sentences using the plural teeth:
- Brush your teeth.
- His teeth shone when he smiled.
- The child lost two teeth after falling down.
As you can see, the plural is always “teeth” when referring to multiple teeth.
Definition of Tooth
Tooth: The hard, bony part in your mouth used for eating.
Origin Of The Word Tooth
The word tooth comes from the Old English word “tōð” or “tōth.”
Wrapping it Up
The plural of “tooth” follows old Germanic language patterns – add an “-en” sound instead of just “-s” to make it plural.
So while it may not make sense today, “teeth” is the right plural form of “tooth” in English. The origins of “tōð” help explain why “teeth” became the standard plural over time.
FAQs
What are tooth and teeth?
“Tooth” is the hard bony part in your mouth used for eating. “Teeth” is the plural form referring to multiple bony mouth structures.
What is the singular for teeth?
The singular form is “tooth.”
Is teeth singular or plural?
“Teeth” is the plural form.
What is the plural of “The boy brushes the tooth”?
The plural sentence would be: “The boy brushes the teeth.”
