Plural of Ox

Have you ever wondered why we say oxen instead of oxes? 

The plural of ox is an interesting exception in English, as most words ending in “x” follow a more predictable pluralization pattern. 

In this article, we‘ll explain why we use oxen, explore other examples of irregular plural forms, and shed light on how this peculiar word survived through centuries of linguistic evolution.

If you’ve ever been confused about the plural form of ox, you’re not alone. By the end of this article, you’ll have a solid understanding of this old English pluralization rule and its historical roots.

The plural of ox is often mistaken for “oxes” because of how we naturally form plurals by adding “-es.” However, oxen is one of the rare plural forms that come from the Germanic roots of English. The plural of ox is a perfect example of how certain words have clung to old pluralization patterns while most nouns followed newer ones.

Read Also: Plural of Fox

What Is the Plural of Ox?

The plural of ox is oxen, not oxes. This is one of the few irregular plural forms in English that has held on to its older, Germanic roots. While most words ending in “x” follow a regular pluralization by adding “-es” (such as “boxes” or “foxes”), the word “ox” defies this pattern. The term oxen is actually a relic of Old English, where the -en suffix was once commonly used to pluralize certain nouns.

Today, most nouns follow the simple rule of adding an “s” or “es” to form plurals. However, oxen is one of those words that remind us of a time when English was heavily influenced by its Germanic roots. Along with words like “children” and “brethren,” the plural form of ox shows how language changes over time but still carries remnants of its past.

Are You Good at Plurals?

Many English speakers get caught off guard by the plural of ox. After all, most words that end in “x” take an “-es” ending in their plural form. Think about words like “boxes” or “foxes.”

But when it comes to ox, the natural inclination to say “oxes” is incorrect, even though it might seem logical. This happens because irregular plural forms are less common today, and people often forget the few exceptions that still exist.

Let’s test your skills with some tricky plural forms. Can you guess the correct plurals for words like “goose,” “mouse,” or “fungus”? The plurals are geese, mice, and fungi.

These words, just like ox, have irregular plurals that deviate from the usual rules. While most English plurals are straightforward, a few irregular ones—like oxen—persist, keeping us on our toes.

The Standard Rules for Forming the Plurals

To understand why we say oxen instead of oxes, we need to look at the standard rules for forming plurals in English. For most words, adding -s or -es is all you need to do. 

For example, words like “dog” become “dogs,” and “box” becomes “boxes.” These are predictable, easy-to-follow rules that apply to most nouns. However, when it comes to irregular nouns like ox, things become more complicated.

In Old English, plurals were often formed using different methods. Some nouns added -en to form plurals, like oxen and children. Over time, the -s and -es forms became the standard, but a few Germanic plurals survived. The table below illustrates the general rules for forming plurals:

Noun Ending	Singular Example	Plural Example
Regular (most nouns)	dog	dogs
Ends in “s,” “sh,” “ch”	box	boxes
Irregular (Old English)	ox	oxen

These rules explain why the plural form of ox stands out. Its plural, oxen, is a reminder of how language evolves while preserving some older features.

Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Ox?

The confusion over the plural of ox comes from the fact that most people expect regular pluralization rules to apply. When you see a word ending in “x,” it’s natural to think it will take an -es ending, like “foxes” or “boxes.” 

But oxen follows an older pattern, one rooted in the Germanic origins of English. This pattern can be confusing because it doesn’t match what we’ve come to expect from modern English grammar rules.

Another reason people are unsure about the plural ox is that irregular plural forms are so rare today. Back in the 14th century, many more words took an -en ending to become plural. Over time, most of these words adopted the -s or -es endings, but oxen and a few others held on to their original forms. 

For example, the plural of “eye” used to be eyen, and the plural of “hose” was hosen. Today, oxen is one of the few surviving examples of this older pluralization method.

Extra Information

Interestingly, the word oxen also sheds light on how different dialects of English have evolved. For instance, in some regional dialects of Old English, the -en plural forms were more common, while other dialects adopted -s or -es endings sooner. This explains why irregular plurals like oxen survived in some regions longer than others.

Other nouns in English follow this irregular plural pattern. Some of these, like children and brethren, are also rooted in Old English. It’s fascinating to see how a few irregular forms like oxen have persisted, even though the majority of words now follow the more regular pluralization rules.

Conclusion

The plural of ox might seem confusing at first, but once you understand the history behind it, it makes more sense. Words like oxen are rare reminders of how English has evolved from its Germanic roots, and they give us insight into the language’s rich history. Although irregular plurals can be tricky, they’re an important part of understanding how language changes over time while holding onto certain older forms.

So next time you see a team of oxen working in a field, you’ll know exactly why we don’t call them oxes!