Plural of Daddy: How English Forms Plurals for Words Like Daddy, Wife, and Knife

When you say plural of daddy, the way English turns singular words into plural forms, often with unexpected changes. Also known as irregular plurals, it isn’t just about adding an -s. Some words like wife become wives, others like knife turn into knives, and daddy? It stays daddies—but only because it follows a different rule than the others. This isn’t random. It’s a leftover from Old English, where certain nouns changed their vowel or ended in -f/-fe and flipped to -v before adding -es. The plural of daddy doesn’t follow that older pattern because it’s a modern, affectionate form—not a formal noun like wife or life.

Most people think all -f words become -ves. But that’s not true. Roof becomes roofs, not rooves. Chief stays chiefs. So why does wife become wives but daddy becomes daddies? It’s about history and how often we use the word. Words that were common in daily speech centuries ago—like wife, life, knife—kept their old plural forms. But newer, casual words like daddy, baby, or monkey? They just add -s or -ies. The same goes for monkey—you don’t say monkies unless you’re joking. The real plural is monkeys. And that’s the pattern: if the word feels modern, friendly, or informal, it plays by the simple rules.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real examples of how English handles these changes—not just for daddy, but for wife, knife, diaper, and even 500-dollar bills called "monkeys." You’ll see why some words change shape and others don’t, what makes a plural "correct," and how to avoid sounding off when you’re talking about everyday things. No grammar jargon. No memorizing lists. Just clear, practical explanations based on how people actually use these words today.