platypus
pla·ty·pus/ˈplætɪˌpʊs/noun
platypus is spelled P-L-A-T-Y-P-U-S: 8 letters and 3 syllables (pla·ty·pus). It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 42,145th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, platypus means “A semiaquatic monotreme from eastern Australia with a bill resembling that of a duck, that has a mole-like body, a tail resembling that of a beaver…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of platypus is platypuses; Wiktionary also lists platypi (hypercorrect), platypodes (rare).
How many letters and syllables are in platypus?
| Letters | 8: P-L-A-T-Y-P-U-S |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: pla·ty·pus |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 42,145th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is platypus?
Platypus appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 42,145th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce platypus?
- UK /ˈplætɪpəs/
- UK /ˈplætɪpʊs/
- US /ˈplætɪˌpʊs/
Platypus has 3 syllables, split pla·ty·pus in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-platypus.ogg, En-us-platypus.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of platypus
- platypuses plural
- platypi hypercorrect, plural
- platypodes plural, rare
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does platypus mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A semiaquatic monotreme from eastern Australia with a bill resembling that of a duck, that has a mole-like body, a tail resembling that of a beaver, a waterproof pelt, and flat webbed feet (Ornithorhynchus anatinus).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Platypus in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense Ornithorhynchus anatinus:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | ornithorynque |
| German | Schnabeltier |
| Portuguese | ornitorrinco |
| Spanish | ornitorrinco |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does platypus come from?
From New Latin Platypus (originally a genus name already in use for a type of beetle), from Ancient Greek πλατύπους (platúpous, “flat-footed”), from πλατύς (platús, “flat”) + πούς (poús, “foot”). Piecewise doublet of flatfoot.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).