Why Is the Plural of “Goose” → “Geese” but “Moose” → “Moose”?

English plural forms can be puzzling! Why does the word “goose” change to “geese” in the plural, while “moose” stays the same when pluralized? Let’s explore the history and rules behind these interesting quirks.

🔤 The Story of “Goose” and “Geese”

The plural “geese” comes from Old English’s strong noun system, where vowel changes inside the word indicate plurals. This process, called mutation or ablaut, changes “oo” to “ee”. That’s why “goose” becomes “geese.”

🦌 Why Doesn’t “Moose” Change?

The word “moose” comes from an Algonquian Native American language, not from Old English or Germanic roots. Because of its different origin, it doesn’t follow typical English plural rules and stays the same in plural form.

📚 Other Examples of Irregular Plurals

• “Man” → “Men”
• “Foot” → “Feet”
• “Mouse” → “Mice”
• “Sheep” → “Sheep” (unchanged)

🔗 Further Reading

• Etymology of Moose - Online Etymology Dictionary
• Etymology of Goose - Online Etymology Dictionary
• Grammar Monster - Irregular Plural Nouns

📎 Related Posts

• Why Do We Pluralize “Mouse” as “Mice” but Not “House” as “Hice”?
• Understanding British vs. American English Spelling

Have you encountered other irregular plurals that confuse you? Share your favorites in the comments below!