vertebrae
The plural of "vertebra" is vertebrae.
vertebra comes from Latin, and like many Latin nouns ending in -a it adds -e in the plural.
Meaning: one of the small bones that form the spine (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Use a plural verb with vertebrae: the vertebrae are. Because vertebrae does not end in s, the possessive plural is vertebrae's.
How do you pronounce it?
vertebra is pronounced /ˈvɜː.tɪb.ɹə/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
vertebrae, said VUR-tuh-bree, is the usual plural. vertebras is less common.
Did you know?
- Over time, borrowed words often take a regular English plural too: forums and stadiums are now more common than fora and stadia.
Examples in context
- The human spine has 33 vertebrae.Singular: The human spine has one vertebra on top of another.
- The vertebrae protect the spinal cord.Singular: The vertebra protects the spinal cord.
