What’s the plural of “volcano”?
The plural of volcano is volcanoes or volcanos; both are accepted plurals to mention more than one volcano. As a general pattern, many singular nouns that end in –o add –s or –es as a plural noun. Other examples are tomato/tomatoes, potato/potatoes, heroes, echoes, etc.
We visited several active volcanoes on the island.
The farmer harvested many juicy potatoes this year.
The kids loved dressing up as heros for the party.
I watched many old videoes on streaming services.
This is not invariably the case, since sometimes nouns that end in ‘o’ just add an –s as a plural noun, like with radio/radios and video/videos. For the most part, the –es is preferred as the standard plural form, and more common for singular nouns ending in o.
What are volcanoes?
According to USGS.gov, volcanoes are “openings, or vents where lava, tephra (small rocks), and steam erupt onto the Earth’s surface.”
Nouns that end in “-o” / “-es” or “-s”
| Singular Noun | Plural Form(s) |
|---|---|
| tomato | tomatoes |
| buffalo | buffaloes or buffalos |
| potato | potatoes |
| hero | heroes |
| volcano | volcanos or volcanoes |
Examples of the word volcanos/volcanoes used in sentences
| Noun: volcano | Example sentences |
|---|---|
| volcano (singular) |
Cinder cones are the simplest type of volcano. Pieces of the volcano collapse as rock falls or as landslides. This connection to fresh magma allows the volcano to erupt over and over again in the same location. |
| volcanoes (plural) |
There are about 1,350 potentially active volcanoes worldwide, not counting the volcanoes under the oceans. Kīlauea volcano on the Island of Hawai‘i is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. USGS scientists monitor over 160 active and potentially active volcanoes in the United States. |
Origin of the word volcano
1610s, from Italian vulcano “burning mountain,” from Latin Vulcanus “Vulcan,” Roman god of fire, also “fire, flames, volcano”.
Practice: Volcano (singular or plural)
The island is famous for its active ______.
There are many dormant ______ around the world.
Some people prefer the plural spelling ______.
Mount Fuji is a famous ______ in Japan.
The eruption of the ______ was a spectacular event.
FAQs
What’s the plural of volcano?
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Are ‘volcanoes’ and ‘volcanos’ both correct?
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Is one plural form preferred for volcano?
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How do -o nouns usually form plurals?
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Are there common mistakes with -o plurals?
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Yash, D. "How to Use Volcano Plural (Explained, With Examples)." Grammarflex, Aug 24, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/volcano-plural/.
