ABSP - No —S Plural

No —S Plural

Words

This is a selection of words in CSW that you might expect to take a plural -S but which in fact do not. Such words can be categorised as:

1. singular nouns that do not inflect in the plural, as is the case with, for example, many Maori words. Note that to keep the list manageable I have not attempted to cover the several thousand singular nouns that do have a plural form which just happens not to be -S. For example, the plural of TIMPANO is TIMPANI not TIMPANOS*, but at least it does have a plural that is different from the singular, and so is not included here.

2. plural nouns whose form might fool you into thinking they were singular e.g. KYNE, LOCHIA, OTAKU. This is a fairly subjective set of inclusions and I have assumed a modicum of Latin/Greek knowledge on the part of the reader e.g. enough to know that RADII is not a singular noun so no RADIIS*

3. words which look very like nouns but are in fact adjectives e.g. KEYRING, RATBITE, BENCHTOP. Again this is a fairly subjective set of inclusions

4. interjections that don't take S e.g. EEK, HUH, JOKOL: some interjections do pluralise and some don't, and no rule can be given

I have omitted words of more than 10 letters.


abram	adj	(Shakesp.) auburn.
accused	n	A person accused.
adnexa	npl	Conjoined anatomical parts.
aggri	npl	Ancient W. African variegated glass beads.
aha	int	Expressing exultation or pleasure.
ahem	int	A sound expressing delicate interruption.
alfredo	adj	Cooked with a cheese and egg sauce.
amadoda	npl	(Nguni) grown men.
angola	adj	Relating to a fabric made from the wool of the Angora goat.
antidora	npl	(Lat.) the unconsecrated bread remaining after the Eucharistic Liturgy, blessed by the priests and given to non-communicants as well as communicants.
apgar	adj	As in APGAR score, a system for determining the condition of an infant at birth.
arriba	int	Expressing pleasure or approval.
att	n	A Laotian monetary unit.
aue	n	(Maori) an exclamation of pain, distress or astonishment.
azerty	adj	A European version of the typewriter keyboard.
azo	adj	containing nitrogen
ballotini	npl	(Ital.) small glass beads used in reflective paint.
bandaid	adj	(Tradename) referring to a type of sticking-plaster.
bangalore	adj	As in bangalore torpedo, an explosive device in a long metal tube, used for blowing holes in barbed wire.
barro	adj	Embarrassing.
basho	n	(Japanese) in sumo wrestling, a tournament.
batwing	adj	As in batwing sleeve: a sleeve with a deep armhole and a tight cuff.
bedu	n	A tent-dwelling nomadic Arab.
benchtop	adj	For use at a bench.
berbice	adj	As in berbice chair, a type of armchair with long arms that can be folded inwards to act as leg rests.
berko	adj	Berserk.
bhat	n	The basic monetary unit of Thailand, equal to 100 SATANGS.
bigstick	adj	Of or relating to irresistible military strength.
bigtime	adj	Important.
bimble	adj	(Aborig.) as in bimble box, a type of dense Australian tree.
birchbark	adj	Made of birch bark, as in birchbark canoe.
birdlife	n	Birds collectively.
bitou	adj	As in bitou bush, a sprawling woody South African shrub.
blackstrap	adj	As in blackstrap molasses.
bliksem	adj	Expressing surprise.
boeuf	adj	(Fr.) as in boeuf bourguignon, a casserole of beef, herbs etc cooked in red wine.
bon	adj	(French) good
bona	npl	(Lat.) goods.
bonjour	int	(Fr.) good day.
bonsoir	int	(Fr.) good evening.
booshit	adj	Excellent.
borlotti	npl	(Ital.) as in borlotti bean, a variety of kidney bean.
borna	adj	As in borna disease, a type of viral disease.
bottomset	adj	As in bottomset bed, fine sediment deposited at the foot of a growing delta.
bowie	adj	As in bowie knife, a type of hunting knife.
buffel	adj	As in buffel grass, grass used for pasture in Africa etc.
bullosa	n	A genetic skin disorder.
bunde	n	A German federation or league.
bursera	adj	Designating a tropical American genus of trees yielding elemi and timber.
cabover	adj	Of a truck or lorry, with the cab over the engine.
cajun	adj	(Fr.) relating to descendants of the French-speaking Acadians deported to Louisiana in 1755.
canneloni	npl	(Ital.) pasta in the shape of tubes, which are usually stuffed.
capellini	npl	(Ital.) a type of pasta.
cardan	adj	As in cardan joint, a type of universal joint.
carrick	adj	As in carrick bend, a type of knot.
carron	adj	As in carron oil, an ointment of limewater and linseed oil.
cartop	adj	Able to fit on top of a car.
cattle	npl	Domesticated bovines.
centu	n	A Lithuanian monetary unit.
cevapcici	npl	(Yugoslavian) kebabs of minced beef and pork flavoured with mint and paprika.
chantilly	adj	(Fr.) as in chantilly lace, a type of ornamental lace.
charlier	adj	As in charlier shoe, a special light horseshoe.
cheval	adj	As in cheval glass, a full-length mirror that can be swivelled.
chiao	n	(Chinese) a Chinese monetary unit, one tenth of a yuan.
chimo	int	(Canadian) an Eskimo word used as greeting.
chinese	n	(Coll.) a Chinese meal.
chylde	n	A youth of gentle birth, esp. in ballads.
cimelia	npl	(Lat.) treasures laid up in store.
colorado	adj	Referring to a medium strength of cigar.
copataine	adj	Of a hat, high-crowned like a sugar loaf.
cropfull	adj	Having a full crop.
cucking	adj	(Hist.) as in cucking stool, a kind of ducking stool for witches.
cunabula	npl	(Lat.) the place where something began or was nurtured.
curli	npl	Curled hairlike processes on the E. coli bacteria.
curule	adj	Of high authority, as a higher Roman magistrate who was entitled to a curule chair, one like a camp-stool with curved legs.
cyano	adj	Blue or dark blue.
dataflow	adj	As in dataflow architecture.
dayglo	adj	(Tradename) of a luminous green, yellow, pink or orange.
dirigiste	adj	(Fr.) relating to State control of economic and social affairs.
diriment	adj	That renders absolutely void; nullifying.
disodium	adj	Of a chemical compound containing sodium.
draco	adj	As in draco lizard, a flying lizard.
dryland	adj	Relating to land as opposed to sea.
ducdame	int	(Shakesp.) a meaningless refrain.
eek	int	An interjection expressing fright.
elhi	adj	(US) pertaining to school grades 1 to 12. This is an adjective:
erotica	npl	(Lat.) erotic books, art etc.
euoi	int	(Greek) a cry expressing Bacchic frenzy.
evoe	int	(Greek) a cry expressing Bacchic frenzy.
evhoe	int	(Greek) a cry expressing Bacchic frenzy.
evohe	int	(Greek) a cry expressing Bacchic frenzy.
fap	adj	drunk
farfalle	npl	Pasta in bow shapes.
feminie	n	Women collectively.
fie	int	An interjection expressing reproach.
filmgoing	adj	Designating someone who goes to films e.g. the filmgoing public.
finnesko	n	(Norwegian) a reindeer-skin boot with the hair on.
finnsko	n	(Norwegian) a reindeer-skin boot with the hair on.
finsko	n	(Norwegian) a reindeer-skin boot with the hair on.
fisherfolk	n	People who fish especially for a living.
fistiana	npl	(Facetious) anecdotes about boxers and boxing.
flanken	n	Beef cut from the side and boiled with vegetables.
floatcut	adj	As in floatcut file, a file with parallel rows of teeth.
freewill	adj	Voluntary.
frenne	adj	(Spenser) foreign, strange.
fusuma	n	(Japanese) a Japanese sliding door.
fy	int	An interjection expressing reproach.
gadjo	n	(Romany) a non-gypsy.
gaijin	n	(Japanese) a term for a foreigner.
gandy	adj	As in gandy dancer, a railway track maintenance worker.
gateleg	adj	A style of table.
geronimo	int	A shout given by US paratroopers as they jump into battle.
gidday	int	An expression of greeting.
giltwood	adj	Made of wood and covered with gilt.
goldtail	adj	As in goldtail moth, a European moth with a yellow tail tuft.
gor	int	Interj. used as a mild oath.
gospoda	n	(Russian) a Russian title of address, equivalent to Mr.
gospodin	n	(Russian) a Russian title of address, equivalent to Mr.
grissini	npl	(Ital.) thin crisp breadsticks.
gullwing	adj	Of a vehicle door, opening upwards.
hadaway	int	An interjection urging someone on.
haikai	npl	(Japanese) a series of linked haiku.
haith	int	(Scots) interj. by my faith!
halfen	n	(Spenser) half.
halfpence	n	Coins worth half a penny.
hangul	n	(Korean) an alphabetic script for Korean.
haniwa	n	(Japanese) Japanese clay sculptures.
heame	n	(Spenser) home.
heigh	int	A cry of enquiry, encouragement.
heishi	npl	(Japanese) tiny beads made from shells.
hic	int	Representing a hiccup.
hillfolk	n	People living among the hills.
hiphugger	adj	Of trousers, having a low waist.
hoka	n	(Maori) red cod.
hokku	npl	(Japanese) a series of haiku.
howzat	int	A cry in cricket appealing for dismissal of batsman.
howzit	int	A greeting.
huh	int	Interj. expressing non-understanding.
hwan	n	A monetary unit of S. Korea.
ick	int	An interjection used to express disgust.
ingram	adj	Obsolete.
ingrum	adj	Obsolete.
inkjet	adj	Denoting a kind of computer printer.
inro	n	(Japanese) a small container for pills and medicines.
inshallah	int	(Arabic) an interjection among Muslims: if Allah wills.
ither	adj	Other.
jai	int	(Hindi) victory (to).
jeon	n	(Korean) a monetary unit of S. Korea.
jillionth	adj	The ordinal of JILLION.
jimson	adj	As in jimson weed, an American plant.
jinne	int	An interjection expressing surprise, shock etc.
jirre	int	An interjection expressing surprise, shock etc.
jokol	int	(Obs.) (Shetlands) yes carl.
jomon	n	(Japanese) a particular era in Japanese history.
jannock	adj	Honest.
jonnock	adj	Honest.
jun	n	A coin of North Korea.
kaal	adj	(S. Afr.) naked.
kam	adj	(Shakesp.) crooked, awry
kasme	int	(Hinglish) I swear.
kerchoo	int	An interjection expressing a sneeze.
kernmantel	adj	Denoting a type of mountaineering rope.
keto	adj	Pertaining to KETONE, a chemical compound of carbon, obtained by distilling salts of organic acids.
keyring	adj	Relating to a type of computer drive.
kidglove	adj	As in kidglove treatment.
kiff	adj	(S. Afr.) excellent.
kirby	adj	As in kirby grip, a grip for the hair.
klieg	adj	As in klieg light, an intense carbon-arc light used for illumination in producing films.
kneejerk	adj	As in kneejerk reaction.
kokobeh	adj	Of certain fruit, having a rough skin.
kongoni	n	(Swahili) an E. African hartebeest.
kreplach	n	(Yiddish) small dough dumplings usu. served in soup.
kreplech	n	(Yiddish) small dough dumplings usu. served in soup.
kueh	n	(Malay) any cake of Malay, Chinese or Indian origin.
kumbaloi	npl	(Greek) worry beads.
ky	npl	Cattle.
kyne	npl	(Spenser) kine, cattle.
labrusca	adj	Designating a type of grape.
laquearia	n	(Lat.) a ceiling consisting of panelled recessed compartments
leafcutter	adj	As in leafcutter ant.
lebkuchen	n	(Ger.) a biscuit containing honey and spices.
lehrjahre	npl	(Ger.) an apprenticeship.
leu	n	A unit of Romanian currency.
lifehold	adj	Of land, held by a life estate.
lightwave	adj	Relating to a wave of light.
lochia	npl	(Greek) the discharge from the womb and vagina which follows childbirth.
lokshen	npl	(Yiddish) noodles.
longcase	adj	As in longcase clock, a grandfather clock.
lor	int	expressing surprise
lossmaking	adj	Making a loss, as in a lossmaking enterprise.
lyra	adj	As in lyra viol, a lute-like instrument forerunner of the mandolin.
macrobiota	npl	The larger organisms in the soil.
magyar	adj	(Hungarian) of a garment, cut with the sleeves in a piece with the rest.
malibu	adj	As in malibu board, a lightweight surfboard.
malist	v	(Spenser) pp. of MALICE, to bear ill-will towards.
malpighia	n	A tropical shrub.
manet	int	(Lat.) a stage direction: he or she remains on stage.
manriding	adj	Designating equipment on oil rigs that is for use of personnel rather than for carrying material.
marengo	adj	(Ital.) designating a dish browned in oil and sauteed in mushrooms, tomatoes, onions and white wine.
mazeltov	int	(Yiddish) congratulations.
melastome	n	A tropical flowering plant.
menshen	n	(Chinese) a Chinese door god.
meuniere	adj	(Fr.) (of food, esp. fish) lightly coated in flour and fried in butter.
mim	adj	prim and proper
mixte	adj	Denoting a type of bicycle frame.
moai	n	(Rapanui) any of the gigantic stone statues of Easter Island.
murdabad	int	(Urdu) death to, used in slogans.
musha	int	(Irish) an interjection expressing surprise.
nanoscale	adj	On a very small scale.
nassella	adj	As in nassella tussock, a type of tussock grass.
ngwee	n	(Bantu) a Zambian monetary unit, the hundredth part of a KWACHA.
nisi	adj	(Lat.) taking effect at a specified date unless cause is shown otherwise.
nogaku	n	(Japanese) a traditional Japanese style of drama, aka NOH.
noh	n	A traditional style of Japanese drama.
nontarget	adj	Describing something that is not a target.
novalia	npl	In Scots law, waste lands newly reclaimed.
omniana	npl	(Lat.) about all sorts of things.
organotin	adj	Of an organic compound used as a pesticide.
otaku	npl	In Japan, young computer nerds.
ovipara	npl	An artifical division of vertebrates, including those that lay eggs.
pantihose	n	Tights worn by women or children with ordinary dress.
pantyhose	n	Tights worn by women or children with ordinary dress.
paravail	adj	below others in rank e.g. a tenant paravail
paravant	adj	before, in front
passager	adj	As in passager hawk, a young hawk or falcon caught on migration.
pelon	adj	In Latin America: (of an animal, esp. a dog) having almost no hair.
phew	int	An exclamation of relief, astonishment etc.
piccata	n	(Ital.) an Italian sauce.
pice	n	(Hindi) an Indian coin, 1/4 anna.
pinyin	n	(Chinese) a system for romanizing Chinese ideogram.
pirojki	n	(Russian) a small Russian pastry made with meat or cabbage filling.
piroshki	n	(Russian) a small Russian pastry made with meat or cabbage filling.
pirozhki	n	(Russian) a small Russian pastry made with meat or cabbage filling.
playwear	n	Relating to any clothing worn for play.
poisha	n	(Bengali) a Bangladeshi monetary unit.
polyacid	adj	Designating a compound with more than one acidic group
pooh	int	(Obs.) pooh, an expression of contempt.
popeseye	adj	Denoting a cut of steak.
proface	int	(Shakesp) may it profit you, a phrase of welcome
prosit	int	(Lat.) a toast to good health.
prost	int	(Lat.) a toast to good health.
pugh	int	(Obs.) pooh, an expression of contempt.
puh	int	(Obs.) pooh, an expression of contempt.
quep	int	(Obs.) an interjection expression remonstrance.
rapini	npl	(Ital.) immature turnip plants.
rappen	n	(Ger.) a monetary unit of Switzerland.
rappini	npl	(Ital.) immature turnip plants.
raree	adj	As in raree show, a street show or carnival.
ratbite	adj	As in ratbite fever, an acute infectious disease caught from the bite of a rat.
rikishi	n	(Japanese) a sumo wrestler.
rokkaku	n	(Japanese) a Japanese fighting kite.
rustbucket	adj	As in rustbucket car, a badly rusted car.
rusticana	npl	Objects such as agricultural implements, garden furniture etc made in the rustic style.
sagrada	adj	(Spanish) as in cascara sagrada, dried bark of the cascara buckthorn, used as a purgative.
santimu	n	(Latvian) a former coin of Latvia.
satem	adj	A classification group of Indo-European languages, in which an original palatal consonant developed as a sibilant
sau	n	A Vietnamese coin.
seelie	npl	Good benevolent fairies.
sene	n	(Samoan) a monetary unit of Western Samoa.
sengi	n	A monetary unit of Zaire.
seniti	n	(Tongan) a monetary unit of Tonga.
senryu	n	(Japanese) a 3-line Japanese poem.
senti	n	A former monetary unit of Tanzania.
shagpile	adj	Of carpets, having a pile of long thick fibres.
shapewear	n	Underwear that shapes the body.
sharon	adj	As in sharon fruit, persimmon.
shazam	int	(Tradename) a magic slogan.
sheeple	npl	(Coll.) people who follow the herd blindly.
shilingi	n	A monetary unit of Tanzania.
shortcrust	adj	Designating a type of pastry.
sidh	npl	(Irish) fairy people.
sidhe	npl	(Irish) fairy people.
signeur	adj	(Shakesp.) senior.
siroset	adj	Of or relating to the chemical treatment of woollen fabrics to give a permanent-press effect.
sitka	adj	As in sitka spruce, a tall N. American spruce tree.
skiwear	n	Relating to clothes for skiing.
sleepaway	adj	Relating to a camp for teenagers.
sleepwear	n	Clothes for sleeping in.
soho	int	(Shakesp.) a huntsman's halloo.
sokaiya	n	(Japanese) in Japan, a corporate racketeer.
solgel	adj	Relating to an alternation between SOL and GEL states.
somoni	n	The standard monetary unit of Tajikistan.
sorbo	adj	As in sorbo rubber, a spongy form of rubber.
spaza	adj	(S. Afr.) as in spaza shop, a small shop in a township.
staghorn	adj	As in staghorn fern, a type of fern with fronds that resemble antlers.
strokeplay	adj	Referring to scoring by counting the total number of strokes played (rather than the number of holes won).
stunkard	adj	(Scots) sulky, sullen
subaudio	adj	Relating to low-frequency audio.
suboval	adj	Somewhat oval; nearly oval.
subsea	adj	Below the surface of the sea.
tachina	adj	As in tachina fly, bristly fly.
talaria	npl	(Lat.) small wings or winged shoes represented as fastened to the ankles, chiefly used as an attribute of Mercury or Hermes.
teenage	adj	Pertaining to teenagers.
teenybop	adj	Of or pertaining to TEENYBOPPERS.
tertium	adj	(Lat.) as in tertium quid, an unknown indefinite third thing.
thyine	adj	In biblical translations and allusions: of, pertaining to, or designating (the wood of) the thuya.
tonka	adj	(Tupi) as in tonka bean, a tall leguminous African tree with fragrant black almond-shaped seeds.
torii	n	(Japanese) a Shinto temple gateway.
tormina	npl	(Lat.) acute, colicky pains.
tother	adj	(Arch.) the other.
townfolk	npl	The people of a town.
townsfolk	npl	The people of a town.
townwear	n	Clothes suitable for town.
toytown	adj	Having an unreal and picturesque appearance.
trypan	adj	As in trypan blue, a blue dye obtained from tolidine.
tyin	n	A monetary unit of Kyrgyzstan.
tyiyn	n	A monetary unit of Kyrgyzstan.
udderful	adj	With full udder.
umpteen	adj	Designating an indefinitely large number.
undead	n	A vampire.
unseelie	npl	Evil malevolent fairies.
vagrom	adj	(Shakesp.) vagrant.
verd	adj	As in verd antique, a dark green mottled impure variety of serpentine.
volti	int	(Ital.) a direction to musicians to turn the page.
wardian	adj	As in wardian case, a type of glass container for housing delicate plants.
wayleggo	int	(NZ) a shepherd's call to his dog.
whee	int	An expression of delight.
willyard	adj	(Scots) wilful
willyart	adj	(Scots) wilful
wirra	int	An interjection expressing sorrow.
wotcha	int	A verbal salutation.
wotcher	int	A verbal salutation.
wowee	int	An interjection, an intensification of WOW.
wroth	adj	Wrathful; in commotion; stormy.
xu	n	A Vietnamese monetary unit.
yakuza	n	(Japanese) a Japanese gangster.
yokul	int	(Obs.) (Shetland) yes, yes carl.
zaibatsu	n	(Japanese) a powerful, family-controlled Japanese combine.
zapata	adj	Denoting a kind of flowing, drooping moustache.
ziptop	adj	Having the top opening fastened with a zipper.
zite	npl	(Ital.) a type of pasta like large macaroni.

Data Protection Act: In joining the ABSP I accept that personal information relating to Scrabble, including my rating and my photograph, may appear on the ABSP website and in ABSP publications. I accept that the ABSP will not be responsible for use or misuse of personal information.

SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. by Hasbro Inc., in Canada by Hasbro Canada Inc. and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Ltd. of Maidenhead SL6 4UB, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro or Hasbro Canada.