If you have ever written syllabus in the plural, you may have stopped and wondered: should it be syllabuses or syllabi?
Both forms appear in books, university documents, and everyday academic writing, which can make the choice confusing.
The good news is that the rule is simple. Syllabus is singular, while syllabuses and syllabi are plural.
The two plural forms have the same basic meaning, although they differ in form and style. This guide explains how each one works, how to pronounce them, and when to use them in British and American English.
Quick Answer
The plural of syllabus is syllabuses or syllabi. Both are correct.
- Syllabus = one course outline
- Syllabuses = two or more course outlines
- Syllabi = two or more course outlines
Syllabuses is formed using the regular English plural ending -es. Syllabi comes from the word’s Latin history and has remained common, especially in academic contexts.
For example:
The professor gave us the syllabus on Monday.
The professors shared their syllabi with the students.
The department collected the course syllabuses.
If you want the most straightforward English plural, syllabuses is a safe choice. However, syllabi is also fully acceptable.
Syllabus, Syllabuses, and Syllabi: The Basic Difference
The easiest way to understand these forms is to focus on number.
Syllabus refers to one course document. It may contain the course schedule, topics, assignments, grading rules, reading list, and other information students need.
Syllabuses refers to more than one syllabus. It is the regular English plural.
Syllabi also refers to more than one syllabus. It is the traditional plural associated with the word’s Latin background.
| Form | Number | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| syllabus | Singular | One course outline |
| syllabuses | Plural | Two or more course outlines |
| syllabi | Plural | Two or more course outlines |
So, if a professor teaches one class, that class has a syllabus. If a department offers ten classes, it may have ten syllabuses or ten syllabi.
The important point is that syllabi is not the singular form.
Syllabuses or Syllabi: Which One Should You Use?
Both plural forms are correct, so the choice does not depend on a right-versus-wrong grammar rule.
Syllabuses follows a normal English pattern. English speakers often add -es to nouns ending in a sound like the one in syllabus. This makes the plural easy to recognize.
Syllabi preserves an older plural pattern connected with the word’s history. It is particularly familiar in universities and other academic settings.
For example, both sentences work:
The instructors submitted their syllabuses.
The instructors submitted their syllabi.
If your audience expects simple, modern English, syllabuses is a clear option. If you are writing in an academic environment, syllabi may feel more familiar.
There is no need to correct one to the other simply because you prefer a different style.
How to Use Syllabus in a Sentence
The singular form syllabus is used when you are talking about one course outline.
Please read the syllabus before the first class.
The syllabus explains how the course will be graded.
I could not find the syllabus on the university website.
When you mean several course outlines, use syllabuses or syllabi.
The department published the new syllabuses online.
Students can download the course syllabi from the portal.
The choice also depends on the number of courses:
I need the syllabus for my English course.
Here, only one course is involved.
I need the syllabi for my English and history courses.
Here, there are multiple courses.
This singular-versus-plural distinction is more important than which plural ending you choose.
Syllabuses or Syllabi in British and American English
Both syllabuses and syllabi are used in both British and American English.
In British English, syllabuses is a normal English plural. Syllabi is also established and can be found in academic writing.
American English uses syllabus for a course outline as well. American universities and professors also use both syllabi and syllabuses when referring to several course documents.
So there is no simple rule such as “British English uses syllabuses” or “American English uses syllabi.” Both varieties allow both forms.
Your best choice is to follow the style used by your school, university, employer, or publication. If there is no house style, choose the form that sounds natural for your audience and remain consistent.
Syllabus Grammar: Singular and Plural Agreement
The noun must agree with the verb that follows it.
With singular syllabus, use a singular verb:
The syllabus is available online.
With plural syllabi, use a plural verb:
The syllabi are available online.
The same applies to syllabuses:
The syllabuses are available online.
The same principle works with demonstratives:
This syllabus contains the exam dates.
These syllabi contain the exam dates.
Those syllabuses were used last year.
A common mistake is to see the unusual ending in syllabi and assume that it might be singular. It is not. Syllabi is plural, so it takes plural verbs.
Course Syllabus or Course Syllabi?
The correct form depends on how many courses or course documents you mean.
Use course syllabus for one:
The course syllabus explains the attendance policy.
Use course syllabi for multiple:
The university has posted the course syllabi for the fall semester.
You can also use course syllabuses:
The department reviewed all the course syllabuses.
The word course does not change the plural rule. The noun that changes is syllabus.
This is why course syllabus and course syllabi are both correct, but they do not mean exactly the same thing in number.
Syllabuses or Syllabi Pronunciation
The pronunciation changes with the ending.
Syllabus is pronounced approximately SIL-uh-bus.
Syllabuses is pronounced approximately SIL-uh-bus-iz.
Syllabi is commonly pronounced SIL-uh-bye.
The difference is easiest to hear at the end. Syllabuses ends with an “-iz” sound, while syllabi ends with a sound like “bye.”
Where Does the Word Syllabus Come From?
The history of syllabus explains why its plural can look unusual.
The English word came through Latin, but its history is connected to a Greek term and an old textual transmission error. In English, the word eventually became syllabus, meaning a summary or outline of a course of study.
Because of its Latin connection, syllabi developed as a traditional plural. English also created the regular plural syllabuses.
This is an example of how English handles borrowed words. A word may keep an older plural while also gaining a regular English form. That is why you can find both syllabi and syllabuses today.
You do not need to know the etymology to use the word correctly, but it explains why the two plural forms look so different.
Syllabus vs. Curriculum
A syllabus and a curriculum are related, but they are not interchangeable.
A syllabus usually describes a particular course. It may tell students what they will study, which assignments they must complete, what books they need, and how their work will be assessed.
A curriculum is broader. It can refer to the complete program of study offered by a school, college, university, or educational system.
For example:
The university’s curriculum includes several English courses.
Each English course has its own syllabus.
This means one curriculum can contain many courses, and those courses can have many syllabi or syllabuses.
A simple distinction is:
Curriculum = the wider program of study
Syllabus = the outline for a particular course
Common Mistakes With Syllabus
Most mistakes with this word involve number or verb agreement.
Using syllabi for one course
❌ The syllabi is on the website.
✓ The syllabus is on the website.
One document requires the singular form.
Using a singular verb with syllabi
❌ The syllabi is available.
✓ The syllabi are available.
Because syllabi is plural, it takes are.
Assuming syllabuses is incorrect
Some people learn syllabi first and then assume that syllabuses must be wrong. That is not the case. Syllabuses is a valid English plural.
Confusing syllabus with curriculum
A syllabus normally relates to an individual course. A curriculum covers a broader educational program. Using the terms as exact synonyms can make your meaning unclear.
Mixing singular and plural forms
❌ The course syllabi contains five units.
✓ The course syllabus contains five units.
If there is only one course document, use syllabus.
Syllabuses or Syllabi Examples
Here are examples showing how the forms work in different situations.
Academic writing:
The professor revised the syllabus before the semester began.
University administration:
The faculty reviewed the syllabi for the new courses.
Department records:
The department stores old syllabuses for reference.
Student conversation:
Have you checked the syllabus yet?
Multiple classes:
We received the syllabi for all four courses.
General English:
Each syllabus gives students a clear list of course requirements.
These examples show that the form depends first on whether you mean one document or several.
FAQs
1. What is the plural form of the word syllabus?
The plural forms are syllabuses and syllabi. Both are correct. Syllabus is the singular form.
2. Which is correct, syllabuses or syllabi?
Both are correct plural forms. Syllabuses follows the regular English plural pattern, while syllabi reflects the word’s Latin history.
3. What is a syllabi?
Syllabi is a plural noun. It refers to two or more course outlines. The singular form is syllabus.
4. Is it course syllabus or course syllabi?
Use course syllabus for one course outline and course syllabi for multiple course outlines. Course syllabuses is also grammatically possible for multiple documents.
5. Do Americans say syllabus?
Yes. Syllabus is a standard word in American English. Both syllabi and syllabuses can be used as its plural.
6. Why is it called a syllabus?
The word entered English through Latin and has a complex history connected with a Greek term and its transmission. Its history also helps explain the traditional plural syllabi.
7. What is a syllabus vs. a curriculum?
A syllabus normally describes one particular course, while a curriculum refers to a wider program of study containing multiple courses or learning areas.
Conclusion
The plural of syllabus can be syllabuses or syllabi. The singular form is syllabus, so the basic pattern is easy to remember: one syllabus, two or more syllabuses or syllabi.
The two plural forms differ mainly in their formation and style. Syllabuses uses a regular English ending, while syllabi preserves a traditional Latin-based form.
Both are used in British and American English, so your choice can depend on context and style. Most importantly, remember that syllabi is plural, not singular.
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