What’s the plural of “paralysis”?
The plural of paralysis (paralyses), is irregular. Though it ends in –es as a plural, it does so by replacing its ending in the singular case. Usually, nouns add on the -es/-s to show a plural: books, phones, dogs and cats simply add the s to demonstrate more than. It’s a simple and straightforward way to form a plural noun: just add an s.
This is not the case with nouns like hypnosis, thesis, synopsis, crisis, oasis, (the list goes on). It could have something to do with the fact that each of these words were brought down to Modern English from Ancient Greek. Which is likely why the same rule applies with these other Greek ‘irregular’ nouns, crisis, oasis, diagnosis, and so forth; like paralysis, each modifies to –ses to convey plurality. See the chart.
Nouns that end in -sis/-ses
| singular | plural |
| parenthesis | parentheses |
| crisis | crises |
| diagnosis | diagnoses |
| oasis | oases |
| synopsis | synopses |
| thesis | theses |
“paralyses” as the plural of “paralysis,” picture multiple snakes (s-s-s sound) causing paralysis, emphasizing the “ses” ending.
Sentence examples: paralysis and paralyses
| Form | Example Sentences |
|---|---|
| Singular (paralysis) |
• The disease causes a paralysis of the legs. • The whole country is in a state of paralysis. • They are trying to end the political paralysis that has been gripping the country. |
| Plural (paralyses) |
• It can lead to facial paralyses, deafness and blindness as nerves are put under pressure. • Motor neuron diseases cause steady paralyses of the body while leaving the mind clear. • Large slipped discs can also cause muscle paralyses and loss of bladder control. |
Synonyms & nearby words
Worksheet
What is the correct plural form of “paralysis”?
According to the post, nouns ending in -sis like “paralysis” typically form their plural by:
Which of these words listed in the post follows the same irregular plural rule as “paralysis”?
Which of these plural forms is specifically mentioned in the post as INCORRECT?
The blog post suggests the irregular plural forms for words like “paralysis,” “crisis,” and “oasis” might be linked to their origin in:
Motor neuron diseases cause steady of the body.
The research revealed multiple economic .
The board discussed the various given.
She asked us to read the before the meeting.
The desert journey led them to two lovely .
FAQs
What is the plural of paralysis?
+
How is paralysis plural formed?
+
Is paralysis plural regular?
+
Do other words pluralize like paralysis?
+
How is paralyses used?
+
Sources
-
OED, paralysis.
Yash, D. "How to Use Paralysis Plural (Explained, With Examples)." Grammarflex, Sep 15, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/paralysis-plural/.
