Singular & Plural Nouns – By changing -y into -ies if a noun ends in a consonant before the -y (List)

When a noun in English ends with -y preceded by a consonant, we change the -y into -ies to form the plural. Here is a comprehensive list of such nouns grouped into singular and plural pairs:

SingularPluralShort Meaning
CityCitiesUrban area
CountryCountriesGeographic region
BabyBabiesYoung child
LadyLadiesAdult female
PuppyPuppiesYoung dog
StoryStoriesNarrative or tale
PartyPartiesSocial gathering
FamilyFamiliesRelated individuals
CompanyCompaniesBusiness entity
ColonyColoniesTerritorial grouping
CommunityCommunitiesGroup of people
ActivityActivitiesTask or action
VarietyVarietiesType or kind
ArmyArmiesMilitary force
UniversityUniversitiesHigher education institution
LibraryLibrariesCollection of books
TheoryTheoriesExplanatory idea
CategoryCategoriesClass or division
VictoryVictoriesTriumph or success
MemoryMemoriesRecollection
IndustryIndustriesSector of economy
PropertyPropertiesPossession or asset
HistoryHistoriesRecord of past events
MysteryMysteriesUnexplained event
FactoryFactoriesManufacturing facility
TerritoryTerritoriesLand area
DiaryDiariesPersonal journal
CherryCherriesFruit
RemedyRemediesSolution or cure
BatteryBatteriesEnergy storage device
CelebrityCelebritiesFamous person
GalleryGalleriesArt exhibition space
StrategyStrategiesPlan of action
AbilityAbilitiesSkill or talent
CeremonyCeremoniesFormal event
SecretarySecretariesAdministrative professional
BoundaryBoundariesBorder or limit
DiscoveryDiscoveriesFinding or detection
OpportunityOpportunitiesFavorable circumstance
IdentityIdentitiesState of being
GroceryGroceriesFood store
AccessoryAccessoriesAdditional item
NecessityNecessitiesEssential item
DeliveryDeliveriesAct of transporting goods
InquiryInquiriesAct of asking
PolicyPoliciesSet of rules
EntryEntriesAct of entering
JourneyJourneysTrip or voyage
QualityQualitiesCharacteristic or trait
QuantityQuantitiesAmount or number
AgencyAgenciesBusiness or organization
BakeryBakeriesPlace where bread is baked
CalamityCalamitiesDisaster or misfortune
DignityDignitiesQuality of being worthy
EmissaryEmissariesRepresentative
FelonyFeloniesSerious crime
GalaxyGalaxiesLarge system of stars
HarmonyHarmoniesPleasant musical sound
JealousyJealousiesFeeling of envy
KnackeryKnackeriesPlace for disposal of animals
LegacyLegaciesInheritance or bequest
MonopolyMonopoliesExclusive control
NoveltyNoveltiesNew, original, or unusual
ObscenityObscenitiesOffensive or obscene behavior
PenaltyPenaltiesPunishment for wrongdoing
QualityQualitiesStandard or level
RarityRaritiesUncommonness
SeveritySeveritiesSeriousness or sternness
TenacityTenacitiesPersistence
UrgencyUrgenciesImportance requiring swift action
VelocityVelocitiesSpeed
WarrantyWarrantiesGuarantee
YardistryYardistriesCraft of yard structures
ZealotryZealotriesFanatical fervor
AlacrityAlacritiesBrisk and cheerful readiness
BankruptcyBankruptciesFinancial failure
ChivalryChivalriesMedieval knightly system
DensityDensitiesMass per unit volume
ElectricityElectricitiesPhysical phenomena
FragilityFragilitiesQuality of being fragile
GenerosityGenerositiesQuality of being generous
HumidityHumiditiesMoisture in the air
IllegalityIllegalitiesContrary to law
JocularityJocularitiesJoking or jesting
KnaveryKnaveriesDishonesty
LiabilityLiabilitiesLegal responsibility
MobilityMobilitiesAbility to move
NobilityNobilitiesHigh social class
OccupancyOccupanciesAct of occupying
ProbabilityProbabilitiesLikelihood
QuackeryQuackeriesFraudulent medical practice
RationalityRationalitiesLogic or reasoning
SensibilitySensibilitiesAbility to appreciate
ToxicityToxicitiesDegree to which something is toxic
UsuryUsuriesIllegal action of lending
ValidityValiditiesLegally acceptable
WhimsyWhimsiesPlayful or fanciful idea

The rule “changing -y into -ies if a noun ends in a consonant before the -y” is a standard rule in English for forming the plural of certain nouns. Here’s a breakdown of the rule:

  • Identify the final two letters of the noun: Look at the last two letters of the noun. If the letter immediately before the final “-y” is a consonant, then this rule applies.
    Example: In the word “city,” the letter before the “-y” is a consonant (t).
  • Change the ending “-y” to “-ies”: If the noun ends in a consonant followed by a “-y,” you change the “-y” to “-ies” to form the plural.
    Example: “city” becomes “cities.”
  • Resulting plural form: The result is the plural form of the noun.
    Example: One city, two cities.

This rule helps to ensure consistency in the spelling of plural nouns in English, making it easier to form and recognize plural nouns that end in “-y.”