Fungi vs. Funguses – Which is Correct?

While both fungi and funguses are grammatically acceptable plural forms of the noun “fungus,” fungi is overwhelmingly the preferred and more common term, especially in scientific, academic, and formal contexts. Funguses is a regularized English plural, less frequently used but understood, typically appearing in more casual settings.

Fungi or Funguses – Which is Correct?

The distinction between fungi and funguses lies in their linguistic origins and conventional usage. Both words serve as valid plural forms for “fungus,” a term referring to a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms including yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. The choice between them primarily depends on the desired level of formality and adherence to traditional scientific nomenclature.

Fungi is the classical plural, directly adopted from Latin, reflecting the scientific community’s long-standing practice of using Latin or Greek roots for biological classification. Its use is deeply entrenched in mycology and related scientific fields. Funguses, on the other hand, is an Anglicized plural, formed by simply adding “-es” to the singular noun, following standard English pluralization rules. While grammatically sound, it is less common and often perceived as less formal or precise than fungi.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

To easily remember the difference, think of the context: “Fungi for Science, Funguses for Casual.”

• If you’re discussing biology, ecology, or academic topics, fungi is almost always the correct and expected choice. It sounds more scholarly, much like other Latin-derived scientific plurals such as algae or bacteria.
• If you’re talking about mushrooms you picked in the garden or discussing them informally, funguses might surface, though fungi would still be widely understood and often preferred.

Another trick is the “I” vs. “ES” ending: the “I” ending in fungi connects it to its traditional Latin roots, while the “ES” ending in funguses signifies a more typical English plural form.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Fungi	Plural Noun	Multiple organisms of the kingdom Fungi (e.g., mushrooms, molds, yeasts). Latin plural.	The forest floor was covered with diverse fungi after the rain.
Funguses	Plural Noun	Multiple organisms of the kingdom Fungi. Anglicized plural.	Some strange-looking funguses were growing on the old tree stump.

How to Use Fungi

The term fungi is the standard and preferred plural of “fungus” in scientific, academic, and formal writing. It is used when referring to multiple individual organisms belonging to the kingdom Fungi, or when discussing the kingdom as a whole in a plural sense. Its Latin origin lends it an air of precision and formality, making it the default choice for mycologists, biologists, and anyone writing in a scholarly context.

Example 1: Researchers are studying how different species of fungi interact within the soil ecosystem.

Example 2: Certain types of edible fungi are highly prized in gourmet cuisine around the world.

Example 3: The rapid decomposition of organic matter is often facilitated by various microscopic fungi.

What are the different forms of Fungi?

Fungi is already a plural form. The singular form from which it derives is fungus. There are no other common grammatical forms (e.g., verb tenses, comparative adjectives) for this noun. The pluralization follows a Latin rule, where nouns ending in “-us” in the singular often change to “-i” in the plural (e.g., cactus/cacti, alumnus/alumni).

Etymology of the word Fungi

The word fungus, from which fungi is pluralized, entered English in the late 14th century, directly from the Latin word fungus, meaning “mushroom.” The Latin term itself is likely related to the Greek word sphongos (or spongos), meaning “sponge,” possibly due to the spongy texture of some mushrooms. The plural form fungi maintains this classical Latin pluralization.

How to Use Funguses

While less common than fungi, funguses is an entirely grammatically correct plural form, created by applying standard English pluralization rules (adding “-es” to words ending in “-us” when the “u” is short or the word is anglicized). It is typically found in less formal contexts, casual conversations, or in writing where the author prefers a more anglicized and less Latinate feel. It is not incorrect, but it may sound less sophisticated or scientific to some ears.

Example 1: My grandma always worried about strange funguses growing on her house plants.

Example 2: There were a few weird-looking funguses popping up in the lawn after the heavy rain.

Example 3: The children pointed out all the different colored funguses they saw on their nature walk.

What are the different forms of Funguses?

Funguses is the regular English plural form of the singular noun fungus. Like fungi, it is a noun and does not have verb tenses, comparative forms, or other grammatical variations. Its formation simply follows the standard rule of adding “-es” to a singular noun ending in “-us” to create its plural.

Etymology of the word Funguses

The etymology of funguses is tied directly to the singular noun fungus, which, as mentioned, comes from Latin. The “-es” ending is a purely English addition, regularizing the plural form according to common English grammar rules that have developed over centuries, moving away from strict adherence to foreign pluralization patterns for many borrowed words.

Related Concepts

Understanding broader grammatical concepts helps clarify why words like fungi and funguses exist and how they are used.

• Irregular Plurals: Many English nouns, especially those derived from Latin, Greek, or Old English, do not form their plurals by simply adding “-s” or “-es.” Instead, they follow older patterns (e.g., child/children, mouse/mice, goose/geese). Fungi is an example of an irregular plural adopted directly from Latin.
• Latin Plurals in English: English has borrowed numerous words from Latin, often retaining their original Latin plural forms. Examples include alumnus/alumni, datum/data, curriculum/curricula, and stimulus/stimuli. Over time, some of these words also develop regularized English plurals (e.g., octopi/octopuses, cactuses/cacti), creating acceptable alternatives.

Examples from Media and Literature

• “The study published in Nature Microbiology detailed the discovery of new fungi species in extreme environments.” – Scientific Journal, June 2026.
• “In many ancient myths, mushrooms and other fungi were believed to possess magical or medicinal properties.” – From a documentary on ethnobotany.
• “Chef Ramsay commented on the exquisite blend of wild fungi that elevated the risotto dish.” – Food Critics Review.
• “The latest environmental report warned about invasive fungi threatening native plant populations across the region.” – News Article, May 2026.
• “While exploring the damp caves, they stumbled upon luminous fungi clinging to the rock walls, creating an otherworldly glow.” – Fantasy Novel.

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct or most appropriate word to complete the sentence.

1. The mycologist identified several rare types of ______ in the specimen.
2. My younger sister was scared of all the weird ______ growing on the rotting log.
3. Certain ______ are essential for breaking down dead organic matter in forests.
4. The children pointed out the colorful ______ they saw on their afternoon hike.
5. Medical professionals often study pathogenic ______ to understand human diseases.

Answer Key

1. fungi (scientific context)
2. funguses or fungi (casual context, either is acceptable but “funguses” fits the casual tone)
3. fungi (general scientific/ecological statement)
4. funguses or fungi (casual context, either is acceptable but “funguses” fits the casual tone)
5. fungi (medical/scientific context)

Fungi Synonyms

While “fungi” refers to a specific biological kingdom, depending on the context, related terms or broader categories might be considered synonyms:

Synonym	Definition
Mushrooms	The fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or its food source.
Molds	Various types of fungi that grow in multicellular filaments called hyphae, often causing decay or spoilage.
Yeasts	Microscopic, single-celled fungi, many of which are important in fermentation (e.g., bread, beer).
Mycelium	The vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of fine white filaments (hyphae). (Note: This is singular, referring to the body of a fungus).

Funguses Synonyms

As funguses is simply an alternative plural form of “fungus,” its synonyms are identical to those of fungi, referring to the same biological entities.

Synonym	Definition
Mushrooms	The fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or its food source.
Molds	Various types of fungi that grow in multicellular filaments called hyphae, often causing decay or spoilage.
Yeasts	Microscopic, single-celled fungi, many of which are important in fermentation (e.g., bread, beer).
Mycelium	The vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of fine white filaments (hyphae). (Note: This is singular, referring to the body of a fungus).

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “funguses” ever preferred over “fungi”?
No, fungi is almost always preferred, especially in formal and scientific contexts. While funguses is grammatically correct, it is less common and may be perceived as less formal or precise. There are no situations where funguses is the universally preferred term.

Question 2: Why do some words have two acceptable plural forms?
Many words borrowed into English from other languages, particularly Latin and Greek, often retain their original foreign plural forms (like fungi from Latin). Over time, English speakers may also apply standard English pluralization rules, creating a second, Anglicized plural form (like funguses). Both can coexist, with one often becoming more dominant or preferred in specific contexts.

Question 3: Does the choice between “fungi” and “funguses” affect the meaning?
No, the choice between fungi and funguses does not change the core meaning; both refer to multiple organisms of the kingdom Fungi. The difference lies solely in stylistic preference, formality, and conventional usage within various fields, particularly science.

Conclusion

In the debate between fungi and funguses, both terms stand as grammatically correct plural forms of “fungus.” However, fungi is the overwhelmingly dominant and preferred choice, especially in scientific, academic, and formal discourse, owing to its direct Latin lineage. Funguses serves as a perfectly acceptable Anglicized alternative, though it is less common and tends to appear in more casual settings.

Pro Tip: When writing for a professional or scientific audience, or whenever in doubt, always opt for fungi. Using the traditionally accepted plural not only demonstrates linguistic precision but also reinforces your credibility and adherence to established conventions in the field.