What’s the plural of “antenna”?
Is antennas or antennae plural? Which is the correct plural for antenna, or are there multiple?
The grasshopper used its antennae to sense its surroundings.
We installed several satellite antennas to improve the signal.
The grasshopper used its antennas to sense its surroundings.
We installed several satellite antennae to improve the signal.
The appropriate plural for antenna depends on the antenna you’re referring to. If you mean the antenna that are found on the heads of some insects, and are long and thin, then the correct plural here is antennae.
If you mean antenna as in the equipment we use to receive or send radio and television signals, then the appropriate plural here is antennas.
What’s the singular of antenna?
Antenna is the singular of antennas/antennae.
What’s an antenna?
Antenna or antennae (or antennas…) is defined in the online dictionary as:
“One of a pair of slender, movable, segmented sensory organs on the head of insects, myriapods, and crustaceans.” The more common understanding of antenna is as “a usually metallic device (such as a rod or wire) for radiating or receiving radio waves.”
Other Latin nouns
Antenna/antennae comes from Latin and uses distinctly Latin suffixes of –a/-ae. See the chart of other English Latin noun forms:
| singular | plural |
|---|---|
| vertebra | vertebrae or vertebras |
| antenna | antennae and antennas |
| larva | larvae and larvas |
| formula | formulae or formulas |
| nebula | nebulae or nebulas |
Associate the ‘ae’ in “antennae” with insects. Use “antennae” for insect parts, “antennas” for electronics.
“Antenna”, used in sentences
1. On the hardware side, that meant introducing custom components to optimize receive and transmit paths without a protruding antenna. Hunter Fenollol, Popular Mechanics, 15 Nov. 2022
2. It’s not just antenna components that allowed Apple to connect to satellites from a smartphone that doesn’t look like a bulky satellite handset. Chris Smith, BGR, 16 Nov. 2022
3. According to Apple’s blog post on the topic: Apple designed and built custom components and software that allow iPhone 14 to connect to a satellite’s unique frequencies without a bulky antenna. Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 15 Nov. 2022
4. The biggest challenge is miniaturizing a satellite antenna to fit inside a smartphone like the Galaxy S23. Chris Smith, BGR, 16 Nov. 2022
5. The object in question is a new 5G antenna tower erected by LinkNYC, the latest hardware in New York’s sweeping technological upgrade. Dodai Stewart, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Nov. 2022
Examples of antennas/antennae used in application
1. The first antennae are exceptional in branching, if at all, at the third joint.
2. Arms, tentacles, and antennae stretched for it.
3. They have these amazing microphones and antennae.
4. His political antennae proved to be shrewder than ever.
5. Sometimes a creature uses a pair of antennae to swim.
Origin of the word antenna
From etymology online on antenna (n.):
1640s, “feeler or horn of an insect or other arthropod,” from Latin antenna, antemna “sail yard,” the long yard that sticks up on some sails, which is of unknown origin.
Read more about nouns
| Types of nouns | What’s the plural of …? |
|---|---|
| plural-only nouns | …moose? |
| mass nouns | …octopus? |
| collective nouns | …cactus? |
| abstract nouns vs. concrete nouns | …analysis? |
| possessive nouns | …curriculum? |
| regular and irregular nouns | …crisis? |
Work Sheet
According to the blog post, which plural form of “antenna” is typically used when referring to the sensory organs of insects?
Which plural form of “antenna” is appropriate when discussing devices used for sending or receiving radio or television signals?
The blog post states that referring to insect sensory organs as “antennas” is generally considered:
The singular form of both “antennae” and “antennas” is:
Like “vertebra” and “larva”, “antenna” is a Latin noun, which helps explain the alternative plural ending:
A grasshopper uses its delicate to feel its way around.
We installed several new satellite on the roof to improve the signal quality.
He pointed to the single rod-like on top of the old television set.
The beetle twitched its two long , sensing danger nearby.
The cell tower has multiple large transmitting signals across the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the plural forms of antenna?
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When should I use antennae?
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When should I use antennas?
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Can I use antennae for electronic devices?
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How do I remember which plural to use?
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Yash, D. "What’s the Plural of Antenna? Antennae or Antennas?." Grammarflex, Jun 6, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-plural-of-antenna/.
Sources
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Definition of antenna.
