What’s the Plural of Tooth: Understanding Dentistry Terms

• The correct plural form of “tooth” is “teeth.”
• This transformation from “tooth” to “teeth” exemplifies an irregular plural noun in English.
• The i-umlaut or i-mutation is responsible for this type of vowel change in certain English plural nouns.

The plural of “tooth” is “teeth.” This change from “oo” to “ee” is an example of an irregular plural noun, which is a result of a historical linguistic process known as the i-umlaut or i-mutation. This phenomenon affected many words in the English language and is why we have several nouns that change vowels rather than just adding an ‘s’ or ‘es’ at the end to form their plural versions.

What’s the Plural of Tooth?

The plural of ‘tooth’ is ‘teeth’. This transformation is known as an irregular plural.

Below is a table illustrating this kind of change with similar examples:

Singular	Plural
tooth	teeth
foot	feet
goose	geese
man	men
woman	women

Further examples of ‘tooth’ in singular and plural forms can help to illustrate proper usage:

• Singular: The child’s first tooth emerged when she was six months old.
• Plural: Sharks have multiple sets of teeth that can regrow.

Understanding Teeth

Regular vs. Irregular Plurals
Not all nouns conform to a single pluralization rule.

Regular Plurals	Irregular Plurals
adds ‘-s’ or ‘-es’	undergoes change
book → books	man → men
car → cars	mouse → mice

The Vowel Shift
In some cases, like “tooth” becoming “teens,” a historic process known as umlaut is at play.

Singular	Plural	Phonetic Shift
tooth	teeth	/uː/ to /iː/
foot	feet	/ʊ/ to /iː/

Patterns within irregular plural forms are often remnants of historical linguistic evolutions.

Examples of Plural Forms:

• One child, two children
• A woman, several women

Singular Form of Tooth

The singular noun tooth refers to one of the hard, calcified structures in the jaws of vertebrates, used for chewing and biting. This term embodies a broader meaning within humans and animals, being integral for various functions beyond eating, including speech and facial structure.

Usage of the Singular Form:

• I have to see the dentist because I chipped my tooth.

To visually organize its singular and plural forms, consider the following tables:

Attributes of ‘Tooth’:

Attribute	Description
Number	Singular
Function	Chewing, biting, aiding digestion, speech, support
Location	In the mouth, arranged on the jaws

Singular vs. Plural Forms:

Singular	Plural
Tooth	Teeth

• When counting: “You have a baby tooth about to fall out.”
• In dental care: “The front tooth requires a filling.”

Other Irregular Plural Nouns (the I-umlaut/I-mutation)

The plural of “tooth” as “teeth” is an excellent example of an irregular plural noun that undergoes a process known as the I-umlaut or I-mutation. This linguistics phenomenon typically involves a change in the vowel sound of a word when forming its plural.

Below is an overview of other nouns that exhibit a similar pattern.

Common Nouns with I-mutation:

Singular	Plural
foot	feet
man	men
woman	women
goose	geese
mouse	mice

Linguistic Characteristics:

• Vowel Shift: The singular form’s vowel sound shifts to form the plural.
• Historical Origin: I-mutation is a historical sound change influencing certain Indo-European languages’ grammar.

Examples in Sentences:

• A child learning to walk takes their first steps with tiny feet.
• One man may have an idea, but it takes several men to bring it to life.
• The difference between a woman and women goes beyond just a vowel change; it represents individuality and plurality.
• Look at the flock of geese flying in a V formation.
• In the tale, the mouse helps the lion and later, many mice come to the rescue.

Application Examples of Tooth (in Sentences)

Singular Application:

• A tooth can be found in the jaws of vertebrates and is essential for chewing.

Plural Application:

• Sharks are known to regrow their teeth throughout their lives.

Table 1: Singular Use of Tooth in Sentences

Sentence	Explanation
The baby’s first tooth is finally coming in.	Indicates a single calcified structure.
He felt a sharp pain in his back tooth while eating.	Refers to a specific single tooth.

Table 2: Plural Use of Teeth in Sentences

Sentence	Explanation
Children usually start losing their baby teeth around age six.	Indicates multiple calcified structures in the context of development.
Regular brushing is vital for healthy teeth.	Refers to the complete set of one’s dentition.

• Singular: An impacted tooth can lead to various dental issues.
• Plural: Some cultural myths suggest that dreams about losing teeth symbolize transformation or loss.
• Singular: A cavity in a tooth needs to be repaired to prevent further damage.
• Plural: Teeth whitening procedures have become increasingly popular.

Application Examples of Teeth:

Dentistry and Healthcare:

• Identification of dental issues: “The dentist examined her teeth for signs of cavities.”
• Discussion of hygiene practices: “Brushing your teeth twice a day helps prevent gum disease.”

Education and Linguistics:

• Teaching irregular plurals: “Unlike ‘tooth’, the plural is teeth, demonstrating an irregular formation in English.”

Biology and Zoology:

• Describing animal diets: “The lion’s sharp teeth are well-suited for a carnivorous diet.”
• Explaining functions: “An elephant uses its tusks, which are elongated teeth, for defense and digging.”

Literature and Storytelling:

• Creating imagery: “The dragon bared its teeth, ready to breathe fire.”

Here are two examples where teeth can be categorized:

Context	Sentence Example
Oral Hygiene	“Flossing one’s teeth is as crucial as brushing.”
Dietary Descriptions	“Herbivores have flatter teeth for grinding plants.”

Context	Sentence Example
Comparative Anatomy	Animal teeth vary significantly between species.”
Idiomatic Expressions	“He had a grin from ear to ear, showing all his teeth.”

Synonyms for Tooth/Teeth

Synonyms for “Tooth”

Formal Synonyms	Slang/Colloquial Terms
Molar	Chomper
Canine	Grinder
Incisor	Biter
Premolar	Gnasher

In a formal or medical setting, one might refer to specific types of teeth, such as molars for grinding food, canines for tearing, or incisors for cutting. In a more casual or colloquial context, words like “chomper” or “gnasher” can be used humorously to refer to one’s teeth.

Synonyms for “Teeth”

Formal Synonyms	Slang/Colloquial Terms
Dentition	Pearly whites
Set of teeth	Chompers
Bite	Grill

• Besides these synonyms, other terms like “ivories” or “fangs” might find their way into various discussions, further demonstrating the flexibility of the English language. Ivories often portrays teeth as valuable or precious, while fangs typically refer to the long, sharp teeth found in certain animals or mythic creatures, and sometimes used metaphorically for humans.

Origin of the Word Tooth/Teeth

The word “tooth” is an ancient term with deep linguistic roots. It traces back to Proto-Germanic *tanþs and linguists suggest a cognate in almost every related language, signaling a common origin.

Etymology of “Tooth”

The English word “tooth” stems from the Old English toð, which parallels other Germanic languages. For instance:

Old English	Proto-Germanic	Old High German	Old Norse
toð	*tanþs	zant	tönn

Phonetic Development

In Proto-Germanic, *tanþs featured a dental stop consonant “t” followed by an interdental fricative “þ” sound. Over centuries, these phonemes have evolved to the modern English pronunciation we use today.

Phonetic Feature	Description
Voiceless Dental Stop	Represented as “t”
Voiceless Interdental	Represented as “th”

Cognates Across Languages

Comparative linguistics reveals cognates in other languages stemming from the same root:

• Old Saxon: zand
• Old High German: zant

Sources

1. Origin of tooth.
2. Synonyms for tooth.