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Dictionary-enhanced plural guide

What is the Plural of “People”?

Learn the singular and plural noun forms, the rule behind the plural, and examples that show the form in context.

SingularpeoplePluralpeople
Rule: plural onlyIPA: /ˈpiːpəl/

Singular and Plural Form of People

People is the singular noun form. People is the plural form.

Dictionary meaning: More than one human being; a group of humans.

Why is the Plural of People “people”?

The Plural only Plural Rule for People

Most English nouns form the plural by adding -s. Example: people → peoples

Plural pattern: plural only.

How to Remember the Plural of People

Pair the two forms in your memory: people (singular) ⇄ people (plural). Say them together a few times.

A common slip-up: PEE-puls (adding s to the end) or PEH-pul (wrong vowel)..

Singular vs Plural Examples with People

See people and people used in real sentences side by side.

  • Many people live in big cities around the world. A1
  • People need water and food to survive. A1
  • Different people have different opinions about politics. B1

Common Plural Mistakes with People

Wrong: There is many people in the mall.

Correct: There are many people in the mall.

People is plural, so use plural verb 'are', not singular 'is'.

Wrong: I met five peoples yesterday.

Correct: I met five people yesterday.

Use 'people' even with numbers. 'Peoples' is only for different ethnic groups.

How to Pronounce People and People

Stress the first syllable: PEE-pul. The 'eo' sounds like 'ee' as in see.

Other Words With the Same Plural Pattern as People

These nouns follow the same plural only rule. Click any word to see its plural page.

Origin and Etymology of People

From Old French peple, Latin populus (nation, multitude).

Frequently Asked Questions About the Plural of People

What is the plural of “people”?

The plural of “people” is “people”.

Is “people” regular or irregular?

This page classifies it as plural only based on the available plural data.

Explore “People” in Other Tools