Italian Loan Words

-o /@U/ - i /I/

libretto libretti

tempo tempi ( tempos)

Some loan nouns (as can be seen from the above list) may have two plural forms: the English plural and the original foreign one:

memoranda

memorandum

memorandums

curricula

curriculum

curriculums

formulae

formula

formulas

There is a tendency to use the regular English plural forms in fiction and colloquial English and the foreign plural in academic or learned language.

Sometimes different plural forms have different meanings:

indexes (list of contents of books)

index

indices (a mathematical term)

geniuses (men of talent)

genius

genii (fabulous spirits guarding a place)