What is the correct plural suffix for Latin nouns ending in -ex?

What is the correct plural suffix for Latin nouns ending in -ex?

• A. ices
• B. ixes
• C. exes
• D. ae

Answer: (A)

When Latin nouns end in -ex, their plural is formed by replacing that ending with -ices. This pattern shows up often in medical terminology, helping you recognize plurals across many terms. For example, apex becomes apices, cortex becomes cortices, index becomes indices, and vertex becomes vertices. Because the plural form uses the suffix -ices, the correct ending is -ices. The other options don’t fit this Latin plural rule: -ixes would not reflect the standard -ex→-ices change, -exes would keep the -ex ending, and -ae is used for nouns that end in -a, not -ex.

When Latin nouns end in -ex, their plural is formed by replacing that ending with -ices. This pattern shows up often in medical terminology, helping you recognize plurals across many terms. For example, apex becomes apices, cortex becomes cortices, index becomes indices, and vertex becomes vertices. Because the plural form uses the suffix -ices, the correct ending is -ices. The other options don’t fit this Latin plural rule: -ixes would not reflect the standard -ex→-ices change, -exes would keep the -ex ending, and -ae is used for nouns that end in -a, not -ex.