The plurals of "photo" and "radio"

Question

The plurals of "potato" and "tomato" are written as "potatoes" and "tomatoes," respectively, but why does "photo" turn into "photos"? How about "radios"? I guess it is because "photo" is an abbreviation of "photograph," and "radio" means "radio receiver." But I'm totally unsure. What is your take?

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

English spelling is quite haphazard.

http://www.howtospell.co.uk/pluralrules.php

Here are some rules for words ending in -o

You can either add an -s or -es to words ending in -O or sometimes they're spelled either way.
a. If a word ends in a vowel-a,e,i,o,u + -O then we sometimes add -s.
radio/radios, stereo/stereos, video/videos
b. If a words ends in consonant + -O then we sometimes add -s or -es.
No rules for this - you just have to learn them or use a dictionary.

Here is a list of plurals, should you care to learn them:
aloes
buboes
buffaloes, buffalo, buffalos
cargoes, cargos
dominoes
echoes
embargoes
flamingoes, flamingos
grottoes, grottos
heroes
jingoes
kilos
mangoes, mangos
mosquitoes, mosquitos
mottoes, mottos
negroes
noes
pianos
porticoes, porticos
potatoes
tomatoes
tornadoes, tornados
torpedoes
vetoes
volcanoes, volcanos
zeroes, zeros

CalifJim · Answer

Don't feel bad, seagull.

I'm a native and I never remember the plurals of words that end in O either. I usually have to look them up in a dictionary.

CJ

Seagull · Answer

Thank you very much for your informative, detailed answer, AlpheccaStars.
It looks quite complicated, but I'll work hard on your list.

Seagull · Answer

CalifJimDon't feel bad, seagull.I'm a native and I never remember the plurals of words that end in O either. I usually have to look them up in a dictionary.

I feel reassured to hear that.
Thank you so much for your kind words, CalifJim.

The plurals of "photo" and "radio"

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