Did anyone else know that the plural of esophagus is esphagi?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Which begs the question, what use is the plural of esophagaus when you only have one of them?

[redqueen]

1. Perhaps one might have a collection of them.

[HopeHoops]

2. In war. "I musta ripped out two dozen esophagi last week."

A lesser use is in the medical community, as in: "We found cancer cells in the esophagi of 8 out of 11 patients who ate Cheetos for breakfast."

[KamaAina]

3. No, it's esophagi

not "esphagi". :P

[tonekat]

4. A flock of them flew over the house yesterday N/T

[mike_c]

5. collectively, a gargle of esophagi....

:rofl:

[kentauros]

6. I can see the use in medical school

:D

[qnr]

7. Well, somewhere way down on the list - it provides you with a post subject n/t

[Lyric]

8. Actually it shouldn't be.

It is, but it shouldn't be.

"Esophagi" is a form of pseudo-Latin, and is etymologically incorrect. The word esophagus is descended from the Greek word Oesophagus ( οισοφάγος ). The plural suffix, therefore, should more likely be "ode", not "i". The correct plural would be "esophagodes." That usage is archaic, of course, but it's also the proper one. Although most modern dictionaries choose to go with the common-use pseudo-Latin version, that decision is more about practicality and commonality than propriety.

:hi: