What’s the Plural of Foot: Understanding English Pluralization Rules
Quick Answer
The plural of foot is feet. One foot, two feet. Do not add -s — “foots” is not correct.
Foot and Feet — See the Pattern
Look at these sentences. Can you see when we use foot and when we use feet?
- She hurt her left foot playing football.
- The baby is learning to stand on her own two feet.
- There is a stone under my foot.
- My feet are tired after walking all day.
Did you see the pattern? We use foot for one, and feet for two or more. The word changes completely — we do not just add -s.
| Singular (one) | Plural (more than one) |
|---|---|
| foot | feet |
When to Use Foot and When to Use Feet
The rule is simple:
- Use foot when you talk about one — “I stepped on a nail with my right foot.”
- Use feet when you talk about two or more — “Both of my feet are sore.”
- Do NOT add -s. “Foots” is not correct in English.
This is called an irregular plural. Most English words add -s to become plural (cat → cats, dog → dogs). But “foot” does not follow that rule. The “oo” sound in the middle changes to an “ee” sound.
“Foot” is also used as a unit of length (about 30 centimetres). When you measure things, the same rule applies: “The table is three feet long.”
Easy way to remember: Think of the word “teeth.” Foot → feet works the same way as tooth → teeth. The “oo” always changes to “ee.”
The Rule in One Line: One foot, two feet — the -oo- changes to -ee-.
How to Use Foot and Feet in Everyday English
- I hurt my foot on the stairs. (= one foot)
- Please wipe your feet before you come inside. (= both feet)
- The room is about ten feet wide. (= measurement, more than one)
- He stood on one foot to keep his balance. (= one foot)
- We walked there on foot because the car was broken. (= by walking)
You are doing great. Now let us look at the mistakes many learners make.
The Most Common Mistake With Foot and Feet
Many English learners add -s and say “foots” — this is completely normal. Even native speakers’ children say “foots” when they are learning to talk. So if you make this mistake, you are not alone.
✗ My foots are cold.
✓ My feet are cold.
✗ She has big foots.
✓ She has big feet.
✗ The fence is six foot tall.
✓ The fence is six feet tall.
How to remember: Foot and feet follow the same pattern as tooth and teeth. If you can remember one, you know the other. Say it out loud: “one foot, two feet — one tooth, two teeth.”
Other words that change like this: tooth → teeth, goose → geese, man → men, woman → women, mouse → mice. These are all irregular plurals — the word changes instead of adding -s.
Test Yourself: Foot or Feet?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. She walked 500 _______ to get to school.
2. My left _______ hurts after the long walk.
3. The table is three _______ tall.
4. He put one _______ on the first step.
5. How many _______ are in one mile?
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned the plural of foot. That is one more irregular plural you will never get wrong again.
But here is something interesting. You know that foot becomes feet and tooth becomes teeth. So what about goose? Does it follow the same “oo to ee” pattern? And if it does, why does “moose” not become “meese”?
Next lesson: Plural of Goose — Why It’s Geese, Not Gooses
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My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
