Plural of Ox and Fox : Why ‘Oxen’ and ‘Foxes’?

To find answer for Plural of Ox and Fox can be somewhat tricky because not all English plurals follow the same rules. It is in our consideration that many words simply add an “s” to become plural, some like “ox” and “fox” take a different path to follow. In this guide , we’ll explore the unique plurals of these two animals “oxen” and “foxes,” and uncover the fascinating reasons behind their differences. Let’s explore their names, especially how they change when there’s more than one.

Definition of Fox?

• A fox as a noun can be defined as a small, wild mammal belonging to the dog family (Canidae). It has sharp ears, a bushy tail and a pointed snout. Foxes are known for their intelligence and adaptability.
• As a verb, “fox” means to confuse or trick someone. It acts as an adjective and refers to the clever personality of a person. Example: He tried to fox me into signing the wrong contract.
•  US, informal : an attractive person. She’s a real fox .It means that she’s a very attractive woman.

Singular Forms: Ox and Fox

Fox 

If you have to refer to one animal use the term “fox”, it’s the singular form. Unlike some words that remain the same in singular and plural (like “sheep”), “fox” changes in its plural form.

Ox 

Ox is singular and refers to a single big, strong member of the cow family. Ox is often trained as a draft animal and  is known for its strength and usefulness in transporting goods and plowing fields.

• Ox is the singular form of oxen.
• Fox is the singular form of foxes.

Is the Plural of Fox “Foxe,” “Foxes,” or “Foxen”?

The correct plural of “fox” is “foxes,” not “foxe” or “foxen.” The nouns ending in -x -s, -sh, and -ch follow the standard English rule of adding -es  to form the plural (e.g., box → boxes, brush → brushes).

•  Foxe, though it is used in modern English ,is an incorrect form.
• Foxen reflects humorous expressions but is not grammatically correct. Some irregular plurals like ox → oxen exist, but “fox” does not follow that pattern.

So, if you’re referring to more than one fox, “foxes” is the proper plural form.

Plural Forms: Oxen and Foxes

Many people get confused writing plural forms of “fox “ and “ox” ,though both of these terms end in the same character “x” but do not follow the same rule to form plurals .This is because English has irregular plural rules.

Oxen:

 The nouns ending in -x -s, -sh, and -ch follow the standard English rule of adding -es  to form the plural (e.g., box → boxes, brush → brushes).

Foxes:

Following the standard English rule for words ending in “-x,” the plural form of the word “fox” is “foxes.” People might mistakenly assume its plural should be foxen because “fox” sounds similar to “ox,” but it does not follow this rule.

“Fox” is a regular noun, to form the plural of the term fox we need to add “-es” instead of just “-s.”Always use “foxes” when referring to more than one fox.

Note: The plural of journey is different from fox plural because they do follow different rules of pluralization. Fox adds “es” to make fox plural while journey needs to add just simply “s” to make it plural .

Plural of Fox Example Sentences

• The foxes are known for their cunning nature  in the forest.
• They saw a group of foxes playing near the river.
• A group of foxes came out at night to hunt for food.
• The zoo recently added two Arctic foxes to their wildlife exhibit.
• Red foxes are commonly found in North America and Europe.
• We saw three foxes roaming in the forest .

Ox Plural Example Sentences

• The oxen pulled the heavy cart through the muddy field.
• Farmers rely on strong oxen for plowing their land.
• A pair of oxen were grazing peacefully in the meadow.
• In ancient times, oxen were used for transportation and farming.
• The festival featured decorated oxen in the parade.

Key Differences:

• “Ox” is an irregular noun, meaning it does not follow the usual “-s” or “-es” pluralization rule. Instead, it takes the Old English “-en” ending, resulting in “oxen.”
• “Fox” is a regular noun, and since it ends in “-x,” the plural is formed by adding “-es,” making it “foxes.”

Plural of Box ,Fox and Ox 

• Plural of Ox is oxen 
• Plural of Box is boxes 
• Plural of Fox is foxes .

Is vixen the plural of fox?

No, vixen is not the plural of fox. Vixen refers to a female fox, while the plural of fox is foxes. So, you would say “a vixen” for a female fox and “foxes” for more than one fox of any gender.

Comparing Plurals: Why ‘Foxes’ for ‘Fox’ and ‘Oxen’ for ‘Ox’?

Singular Form

Plural Form

Pluralization Rule

Explanation

Example Sentence

Ox

Oxen

Irregular plural (Old English “-en” ending)

“Ox” follows an ancient pluralization pattern from Old English, where some nouns took “-en” instead of “-s” or “-es.”

– The ox is pulling the cart. (Singular)- The farmer owns two oxen for plowing. (Plural)

Fox

Foxes

Regular plural (Add “-es” to words ending in “-x”)

“Fox” follows the standard English pluralization rule for words ending in “-x,” which requires adding “-es” to form the plural.

– A fox was spotted in the woods. (Singular)- Several foxes live near the river. (Plural)

Is Fox a Countable or Uncountable Noun?

Yes ,Fox is a countable noun, it means that  you can count individual foxes. For example:

• They saw one fox in the forest.
• He spotted three foxes near the river.

What’s the Collective Noun for Fox?

A group of foxes is called a skulk or leash. These terms are less common in everyday speech, but they are the correct names for a collection of foxes. The collective noun for foxes depends on the context, but the most commonly used terms are:

1. Skulk – The Most Common Term ,a skulk of foxes is the standard collective noun, referring to a group of foxes.

Example: We spotted a skulk of foxes hiding near the trees.

2. Leash – Another Traditional Term ,a leash of foxes is another term used, though it is less common.

Example: The hunters observed a leash of foxes moving through the meadow.

3. Earth – Used When Referring to a Family of Foxes ,an earth of foxes can refer to a group living in a den or burrow.

Example: An earth of foxes had made its home near the rocky hillside.

Animal	Collective noun	Example
Fox	Skulk or Foxes	They saw a skulk of foxes while hiking across the hill.
Lion	Pride	The pride of lines was found resting under the tree.
Wolf	Pack	They saw a pack of wolves roaming in the forest.

Conclusion:

In the animal world, it’s quite simple to talk about  one ox or one fox. But confusion arises when there’s more than one, things get interesting. “Oxen” follows the old English rules and in old English, many nouns took the “-en” ending for their plural form, like “oxen” and “children.” while “foxes” keeps it simple with the usual “es.” I hope by the end of this guide now the idea about plural of ox and fox is clear, the plural of ox is oxen and plural of fox is foxes and not foxen .