If you’ve ever seen a walrus, you know it’s a fascinating creature — those long tusks, big whiskers, and a friendly face that’s hard to forget. But when you want to talk about more than one, things get a little tricky. Do you say walruses or walri? English can be funny like that! Let’s take a closer look at the correct plural form of walrus and learn how to use it naturally in everyday English.
Definition and Plural of Walrus
What Does “Walrus” Mean?
A walrus is a large marine mammal known for its tusks, flippers, and thick skin. They live mainly in the Arctic regions and spend much of their time on ice or beaches near cold seas.
In short:
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Walrus = a big sea animal with tusks and whiskers.
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It’s related to seals and sea lions.
Examples:
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A walrus can weigh more than 1,000 kilograms.
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The walrus rested on the ice after diving for food.
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Have you ever seen a walrus at the zoo?
Now that we know what a walrus is, let’s look at how to talk about more than one.
What Is the Plural of “Walrus”?
The correct plural of walrus is walruses.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| walrus | walruses |
This form follows the regular English rule for words ending in “-s.”
When a noun ends in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, we usually add -es to make it plural.
Examples:
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bus → buses
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box → boxes
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fox → foxes
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walrus → walruses
So the next time you see more than one walrus, you can confidently say walruses.
Examples of “Walrus” and “Walruses” in Sentences
Let’s look at both singular and plural forms in real examples to make the difference clear.
Singular: “Walrus”
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The walrus is resting on the Arctic ice.
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A walrus uses its tusks to climb out of the water.
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I saw a giant walrus at the aquarium.
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The walrus has thick skin that keeps it warm.
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A single walrus can eat dozens of clams a day.
Plural: “Walruses”
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The walruses gathered on the beach to rest.
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Scientists are studying how walruses adapt to melting ice.
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Several walruses were spotted near the northern coast.
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The zoo has two friendly walruses that love attention.
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Walruses often travel in groups called herds.
Common Mistakes English Learners Make
Let’s look at some frequent errors learners make with this word — and how to fix them.
Mistake 1: Using walri
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Incorrect: We saw several walri near the icebergs.
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✅ Correct: We saw several walruses near the icebergs.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to add “-es”
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Incorrect: The Arctic is home to many walrus.
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✅ Correct: The Arctic is home to many walruses.
Mistake 3: Overcomplicating pronunciation
Walruses is pronounced /ˈwɔːlrəsɪz/ — just add “-es” naturally at the end.
Practice for Learners
Fill in the blanks with the correct form — walrus or walruses.
Exercise 1
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A single ______ can weigh over a ton.
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The ______ were lying on the beach together.
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I’ve never seen a ______ in real life.
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Two ______ were fighting over territory.
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The baby ______ followed its mother into the water.
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Many ______ live in the Arctic Ocean.
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The ______ used their tusks to defend themselves.
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A ______ can dive very deep to find clams.
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The researcher photographed several ______ on the ice.
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We saw one huge ______ near the shore.
Answer:
- walrus
- walruses
- walrus
- walruses
- walrus
- walruses
- walruses
- walrus
- walruses
- walrus
Exercise 2
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The ______ is known for its long tusks and thick skin.
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Several ______ gathered on the shore to rest.
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The sound of the ______ echoing across the ice was amazing.
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I think the ______ looks like a mix between a seal and an elephant!
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During the expedition, we counted more than twenty ______.
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The young ______ stayed close to its mother.
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The group of ______ slid back into the cold water.
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Have you ever drawn a picture of a ______?
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The scientists studied how ______ survive in freezing temperatures.
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A lonely ______ was spotted drifting on a small piece of ice.
Answer:
11. walrus
12. walruses
13. walruses
14. walrus
15. walruses
16. walrus
17. walruses
18. walrus
19. walruses
20. walrus