mailboxes
The plural of "mailbox" is mailboxes.
Nouns that end in s, x, z, ch or sh add -es to make the plural, so mailbox becomes mailboxes.
Meaning: a box for letters (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Use a plural verb with mailboxes: the mailboxes are. The possessive plural adds only an apostrophe: mailboxes'.
How do you pronounce it?
mailbox is pronounced /ˈmeɪl.bɑks/. The plural ending sounds like /ɪz/, so the plural has one more syllable than the singular.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use an apostrophe to make a plural. mailboxes means more than one, while an apostrophe shows that something belongs to someone.
Did you know?
- The e in -es makes the plural easier to say after a hissing sound. It adds a syllable: box has one syllable and boxes has two.
Examples in context
- The mailboxes are at the end of the road.Singular: The mailbox is at the end of the road.
- We painted both mailboxes.Singular: We painted the mailbox.
