Plural of Goose | Gooses or Geese?
The correct plural form of goose is geese. “Gooses” is incorrect and should be avoided, although it is sometimes used in casual and informal contexts.
There were many geese, sheep, and cows on the farm.
A flock of geese flew over us.
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Gooses or geese
Goose is an irregular noun, meaning it does not get pluralized simply by adding an “s” to the end of it. Instead, the plural form of goose is “geese,” not “gooses.”
✗ We fed many gooses that lived near the pond.
✓ My daughter was frightened by all the loud, honking geese
✗ My daughter was frightened by all the loud, honking gooses.
✓ Wild geese usually migrate south for the winter.
✗ Wild gooses usually migrate south for the winter.
“Gooses” is sometimes used in casual and informal contexts. For example, when speaking to a group of children, someone may call them “silly gooses,” though this is grammatically incorrect.
With irregular nouns, there’s no pattern. The only way to remember the correct plural form is memorization and familiarization. Other examples of irregular nouns that do not get pluralized by adding an “-s” or “es” to it include “child,” “man,” “tooth,” “wife,” and “woman.”
Noun |
Plural noun |
|---|---|
| Child | Children |
| Man | Men |
| Tooth | Teeth |
| Wife | Wives |
| Woman | Women |
Keep in mind that although “goose” and “moose” are spelled similarly, the correct plural of “moose” is not “meese,” but simply “moose.”
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