The plural of "conch"? [closed]

If you pronounce "conch" to rhyme with "honk", the plural is "conchs". If you pronounce "conch" as a near-rhyme with "launch", the plural is "conches".

For how to pronounce "conch", see this question on the pronunciation of conch (they're both used, depending on where you live).

The plural would be based on the pronunciation. As many dictionaries list two pronunciations (e.g., Dictionary.Reference.com), two different plurals are allowed. If you accept the pronunciation of "kongk" your plural would be a matter of a simple -s (conchs, pronounced "kongks"). If you say the word with the "ch" sound (as in "CHew") your plural will be conches, of two syllables.

According to ODO, the (British) plural of conch is either conchs (/kɒŋks/) or conches (/kɒntʃɪz/). The American equivalents are listed as conchs (/kɑŋks/, /kɒŋks/, or /kɔːŋks/) or conches (/ˈkɑntʃɨz/, /ˈkɒntʃɨz/, or /ˈkɔːntʃɨz/). Similarly, Webster states that its plural can be either conchs or conches.

I had no idea that there were people in the world who pronounce conch as /kɒŋk/, and I expect that those who do, pluralise it as conchs (/kɒŋks/) and those who don’t, pluralise it as conches (/ˈkɒntʃɨz/). Going by the dictionary entries, the variants appear to be prevalent on both sides of the Atlantic.

I’ve always used conches, pronounced with a hard initial c (/k/) and a soft ch (/tʃ/) at the end.

But I also think that spelling it conchs and pronouncing it with with hard initial c (/k/) and hard ch (/k/) at the end is also acceptable.

Which you use I think depends on which side of the pond you’re from!