Mongeese
/ˈmɒn.ɡiːz/noun
An irregular plural of mongoose, referring to more than one mongoose.
Did you know?Mongeese is an accepted irregular plural, but mongooses is also standard; the unusual form likely arose by analogy with goose/geese rather than from the word’s original language.
Etymological Timeline
Before the 16th Century
Marathi
māṅgūs
“Mongoose; a small carnivorous mammal known for attacking snakes.”
16th Century
Portuguese
mungo
“Mongoose, borrowed through Portuguese contact with India.”
17th Century
English
mongoose
“The name for the South Asian snake-fighting mammal.”
18th–19th Century
English
mongooses
“The regular English plural formed with the suffix -s.”
Modern English
English
mongeese
“An irregular plural formed by analogy with goose/geese; mongooses remains the more regular plural.”