lives
The plural of "life" is lives.
Some nouns that end in fe change the f to v and add -s: life becomes lives.
Meaning: the state of being alive, or the time someone is alive (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Use a plural verb with lives: the lives are. The possessive plural adds only an apostrophe: lives'.
How do you pronounce it?
life is pronounced /ˈlaɪ̯f/. The plural ending sounds like /vz/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
The plural lives rhymes with hives, not with the verb lives.
Did you know?
- The v in plurals like wolves and leaves goes back to Old English, where an f between two vowels was pronounced like v.
Examples in context
- The firefighters saved three lives.Singular: The firefighters saved a life.
- Their lives changed overnight.Singular: Her life changed overnight.
