What Are the Plural of ‘Ox’ and ‘Fox’? Why ‘Oxen’ and ‘Foxes’?

The English language is filled with quirks, especially when it comes to forming plural nouns. While most words simply add -s or -es to form their plurals, a handful of words follow completely different rules. This is especially true for words like “ox” and “fox”, where their plurals don’t follow the typical pattern.

In this article, we will explore why “ox” becomes “oxen” and “fox” becomes “foxes”, and also dive into various related plural forms to understand their origin, usage, and how they apply in different contexts.

Understanding the Plural of “Ox”

The word “ox” refers to a domesticated bovine animal, often used for labor, such as plowing fields. The plural of “ox” is “oxen”, which may seem unusual since most English words simply add -s or -es to their singular form.

Why is the Plural of “Ox” “Oxen”?

The reason “oxen” is the plural form lies in the historical development of the English language. In Old English, the word for “ox” was “ox” (just like today), but the plural form was “oxen”. This was a regular way of forming plurals in Old English: instead of adding -s, many nouns would change their vowel or add an -en ending. Over time, -s became the most common plural marker, but some older words like “ox” kept their original plural form.

Scenario Example: An Email About Farm Animals

Imagine a farmer named John, writing to a colleague about his farm’s livestock. Here’s how he might use the word “oxen” in an email:

Subject: Update on the New Livestock

Hi Mark,

I hope you’re doing well! I wanted to update you on the new animals we brought in last week. We now have five oxen to help with plowing the fields. They’re strong and steady, and I’m already seeing the benefits of having them on the farm.

Let me know if you want to come by and check them out!

Best,
John

In this example, “oxen” is used to refer to more than one ox. The form sounds unusual to a modern English speaker, but it remains a vestige of the language’s older grammatical rules.

Why “Fox” Becomes “Foxes”

On the other hand, the plural of “fox” is simply “foxes”, following the standard rule of adding -es to words that end in -x.

The Rule Behind “Foxes”

The reason we add -es to form the plural of “fox” has to do with the spelling. When a word ends in -x, -s or -es is typically added to make the plural. This is a straightforward application of modern English pluralization rules.

Scenario Example: An Email About Wildlife

Now, let’s imagine Sarah, a wildlife researcher, writing to a colleague about her latest study on fox populations:

Subject: Fox Study Update

Dear Alex,

I wanted to share some exciting findings from our recent survey of local wildlife. We’ve observed an increase in the number of foxes in the northern region of the forest. In fact, we counted over 20 foxes in just one week. This is a significant rise compared to last year.

Would you be able to help with a follow-up study to monitor the fox population in the next few months?

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best,
Sarah

In this case, “foxes” is used as the plural form to refer to multiple animals. It’s a simple and typical pluralization rule for most English words ending in -x.

Common Plural Forms in English

While “ox” and “fox” are interesting examples, there are many other irregular and regular plural forms in the English language. Let’s break down some other common plural words for comparison.

Table: Common Plural Forms in English

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Notes
Ox	Oxen	Irregular plural from Old English
Fox	Foxes	Regular plural (adds -es)
Knife	Knives	Irregular plural (changes vowel)
Bus	Buses	Regular plural (adds -es)
Box	Boxes	Regular plural (adds -es)
Peach	Peaches	Regular plural (adds -es)
Leaf	Leaves	Irregular plural (changes vowel)
Goose	Geese	Irregular plural (changes vowel)
Deer	Deer	Irregular plural (same form for singular/plural)
Mouse	Mice	Irregular plural (changes vowel)
Sheep	Sheep	Irregular plural (same form for singular/plural)

Common Mistakes with Plurals

One common mistake when using plurals like “oxen” and “foxes” is not remembering the rule behind the plural forms. Some people might mistakenly say “oxes” instead of “oxen” or use “foxen” instead of “foxes”. However, “foxen” is not a correct plural form for “fox” in modern English.

Examples of Common Mistakes

• Incorrect: I saw three foxen in the forest.
  Correct: I saw three foxes in the forest.
• Incorrect: The farmer owns a lot of oxes.
  Correct: The farmer owns a lot of oxen.

The History Behind “Foxen” and Other Obsolete Plurals

In Old English, it wasn’t uncommon for -en to be added to form plurals, just like “oxen”. However, this plural form gradually fell out of favor for most words. “Foxen” was a common plural in Middle English, but it has since been replaced by the standard “foxes” in modern usage.

This shift from “foxen” to “foxes” reflects a broader trend in English where many older irregular plurals (especially those ending in -en) were simplified over time.

Additional Plural Forms You Might Encounter

While we’ve focused on “ox” and “fox”, there are many other irregular plural forms in English. Some words may seem straightforward, but their plurals can still surprise you.

For example, the plural of “knife” is “knives” and the plural of “mouse” is “mice”. You might think these plurals follow a regular pattern, but they don’t. Instead, they represent older forms of the language that have been retained through centuries of evolution.

Scenario Example: A Discussion About Irregular Plurals

Let’s consider a conversation between two English learners, Emma and Liam. Emma is explaining the difference between some tricky plural forms:

Emma: “So, when we’re talking about mice, that’s the plural of mouse, right?”

Liam: “Yeah, but I don’t get it why isn’t it mouses? I thought English just adds an -s to make things plural.”

Emma: “That’s true for most nouns, but there are exceptions. Take knife. The plural is knives, not knifes. These words follow older rules, and we just have to memorize them.”

Liam: “Ah, so ox becomes oxen for the same reason?”

Emma: “Exactly! Some words still use those old forms. English can be pretty weird like that!”

Why Plural Forms Matter

Understanding the plural forms of words is crucial, especially in both spoken and written communication. Using incorrect plurals can make your language sound awkward or even incorrect. Whether you’re writing an email, crafting a story, or simply chatting with friends, using the right plural forms helps make your language more natural and clear.

Scenario Example: A Formal Letter About Plural Nouns

Imagine John is writing a formal letter to a publishing company about his new book on language and grammar:

Subject: Clarification on Plural Forms

Dear Ms. Johnson,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to clarify a point in the manuscript regarding irregular plural forms. For example, “oxen” and “foxes” are commonly misunderstood by learners, as many mistakenly think “foxen” is correct. My goal is to ensure that these nuances are addressed clearly for the reader.

Please let me know if you require any further revisions.

Sincerely,
John Harris

In this example, John uses the correct forms of “oxen” and “foxes”, ensuring clarity in his professional communication.

Conclusion

The plurals of **”ox”** and “fox” serve as fascinating examples of how language evolves and adapts over time. While “ox” becomes “oxen” due to an older grammatical rule, “fox” follows the regular -es pluralization rule, becoming “foxes”. Understanding these irregular forms not only helps with grammar but also gives insight into the rich history of the English language.

Next time you find yourself writing or speaking, remember the plural of “fox” is “foxes” and the plural of “ox” is “oxen”. It’s just one of those quirks that make English both challenging and delightful to learn!