Words That End in PI: A Plurals Playground
Most English words ending in PI are Latin or Italian plurals that never fully anglicized. OCTOPI (plural of octopus, though OCTOPUSES is more standard), CAMPI (plural of campus in Italian), and OKAPI (the shy forest giraffe from Congo) all land here. The standout for word game players is OKAPI — it's 5 letters, uses common tiles, and scores 11 points in Scrabble. KEPI, the French military cap with the flat circular top, is another handy one at 10 points.
What makes -PI endings interesting is how few of them exist. You can memorize the entire set in a few minutes, and that gives you an edge in crosswords where a final PI narrows your options to a small, knowable list. PI itself is valid — worth 4 points and useful for squeezing into tight board spots. For crossword clues, OKAPI almost always gets clued as "African mammal" or "forest giraffe," and KEPI shows up in any military headwear clue. If you're working with words ending in M, you'll find similar Latin plural patterns. And for other unusual vowel endings, check words ending in OH or words ending in EH.
FAQ
Is OCTOPI the correct plural of octopus?
OCTOPI is widely used but technically imprecise — octopus has Greek roots, not Latin, so the "proper" plural would be OCTOPODES. In practice, OCTOPUSES and OCTOPI are both accepted in dictionaries and word games. OCTOPI scores 11 points in Scrabble. For other tricky plurals, check words ending in EX, where words like INDEX and VERTEX have similar plural debates.
What is an OKAPI and why does it appear in crosswords so often?
The okapi is a mammal native to the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It looks like a cross between a giraffe and a zebra, with striped legs. Crossword constructors love it because OKAPI has great letter distribution — all common tiles, alternating consonants and vowels. For more animal words that pop up in puzzles, browse words starting with Y where YAK and YETI are regulars.
How useful is PI as a two-letter play in Scrabble?
PI scores 4 points and is quite useful for parallel plays — place it alongside existing words to form two-letter combos going both directions. It's valid in TWL and SOWPODS. The plural PIS is also valid. For more high-value short words, explore words ending in LY where you'll find productive extensions.