English UsageGrammar guide

Plural of Curriculum

The noun “curriculum” has two accepted plural forms in current dictionaries: “curricula” and “curriculums.” “Curricula” preserves the traditional Latin plural, while “curriculums” is also recorded as an English plural.

Quick answer

Both “curricula” and “curriculums” are accepted plurals of “curriculum.”

Key details

Confusion Familycompeting classical and regularized plurals
Rule Familyplural and countability
Termscurriculum, curricula, curriculums
Variant ScopeCambridge lists both “curricula” and “curriculums” as plural forms.

Further guidance

Core difference

“Curricula” and “curriculums” are both plural forms; there is no need to treat the regularized form as automatically incorrect.

Fast Test

Choose one form consistently within a document unless a house style or field convention requires otherwise.

Usage Boundary

Do not use “curriculum” itself as a plural when ordinary countable agreement requires a plural form.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. CURRICULUM — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct inflection evidence listing both curricula and curriculums as plurals of curriculum.

Related guides

English Usage

Plural of Nucleus

The noun “nucleus” has the established plural “nuclei,” and Cambridge also records “nucleuses.” The traditional “nuclei” form is especially familiar in scientific contexts.

Explore the topic