pubes - the word

[AG31]

How do you pronounce it?

Is it plural or singular?

Is there one, simple definition?

Every few years I research this and I'm never left with a stable understanding.

 

[StillStunned]

It's short for "pubic hairs", isn't it? So plural, and pronounced like "pubic" but ending in a -z sound instead of -ic.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Pubes = pyoobz.

It is plural. One hair is a pube = pyoob.

Or you can say, "missed it by a c-hair" (c-hair = cunt hair). : P

 

[SimonDoom]

Pubes = pyoobz.

It is plural. One hair is a pube = pyoob.

Or you can say, "missed it by a c-hair" (c-hair = cunt hair). : P

This is my understanding too.

 

[TheLobster]

pyoobs. It’s as close to “speak as its written” as English can get.

The singular form sounds weird to me; I’d never use it. My ESL brain treats it as plural-only word, like pants.

 

[TheLobster]

It's short for "pubic hairs", isn't it? So plural, and pronounced like "pubic" but ending in a -z sound instead of -ic.

I’m utterly disappointed that you posted this without a usage example involving a motherly figure.

 

[StillStunned]

The singular form sounds weird to me; I’d never use it. My ESL brain treats it as plural-only word, like pants.

"As lonely as a pube on the urinal rim."

 

[StillStunned]

I’m utterly disappointed that you posted this without a usage example involving a motherly figure.

You could probably make non-English speakers believe that it might be spelt "pubes", but it's actually pronounced "bush".

 

[Inducker]

How do you pronounce it?

Is it plural or singular?

Is there one, simple definition?

Every few years I research this and I'm never left with a stable understanding.

If you’re not careful, it can get stuck in your mouth.

 

[StillStunned]

If you’re not careful, it can get stuck in your mouth.

Stuck to your tongue or the roof of your mouth. Awful. Particularly if you can't work it loose before you have to socialise.

(So far, the best solution in my experience is sparkling water.)

 

[TheLobster]

If you’re not careful, it can get stuck in your mouth.

Saves you some flossing!

 

[TheLobster]

Particularly if you can't work it loose before you have to socialise.

Right after getting a pube (see? I used it!) stuck in your mouth? You must be attending rather, ahem, interesting social functions if that’s a frequent occurrence for you.

 

[StillStunned]

Right after getting a pube (see? I used it!) stuck in your mouth? You must be attending rather, ahem, interesting social functions if that’s a frequent occurrence for you.

Let's just say they were very stubborn pubes.

 

[ElectricBlue]

How do you pronounce it?

Is it plural or singular?

Is there one, simple definition?

Every few years I research this and I'm never left with a stable understanding.

Always plural in my vernacular, pronounced pyoobs (Oz). On a woman, also known as her map of Tasmania. Unless it's a landing strip, which I guess could be her River Nile. You might get a singular pube between your teeth or on a dunny seat, but that's more annoying than erotic.

A map of Tasmania, though, that's always nice.

 

[MrHereWriting]

Simple definition found here, along with pronunciations: Pubes

As 'slang' then pubes refers to pubic hair, either singular: pube, or plural: pubes.

 

[MyBareTorso]

Stuck to your tongue or the roof of your mouth. Awful. Particularly if you can't work it loose before you have to socialise.

(So far, the best solution in my experience is sparkling water.)

Reminds of that episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm...

 

[jehoram]

It's short for "pubic hairs", isn't it? So plural, and pronounced like "pubic" but ending in a -z sound instead of -ic.

Or the pubic area generally.

 

[OffNSFW]

I agree with our compadres here that "pubes" is plural.

That said, in the case of a word that describes a singular object but has a plural spelling, use the plural verb form. For example, you wouldn't say, "Did you see his pants? It has a huge bulge in the front." You'd say, "Did you see his pants? They have a huge bulge in the front."

 

[AG31]

Always plural in my vernacular, pronounced pyoobs (Oz). On a woman, also known as her map of Tasmania. Unless it's a landing strip, which I guess could be her River Nile. You might get a singular pube between your teeth or on a dunny seat, but that's more annoying than erotic.

A map of Tasmania, though, that's always nice.

Thanks for answering my questions!

 

[AG31]

Simple definition found here, along with pronunciations: Pubes

As 'slang' then pubes refers to pubic hair, either singular: pube, or plural: pubes.

noun: pubes; plural noun: pubes

1. 1.
   the lower part of the abdomen at the front of the pelvis, covered with hair from puberty.
   
   
2. 2.
   plural form of pubis

Now here's a good example of why I always leave confused. How can the lower part of the abdomen be plural? It doesn't give a pronunciation.

 

[AG31]

I agree with our compadres here that "pubes" is plural.

That said, in the case of a word that describes a singular object but has a plural spelling, use the plural verb form. For example, you wouldn't say, "Did you see his pants? It has a huge bulge in the front." You'd say, "Did you see his pants? They have a huge bulge in the front."

This is a helpful take on the plural/singular confusion. What do you think pubes refers to? Hairs? A part of the abdomen?

 

[mildlyaroused]

This is a helpful take on the plural/singular confusion. What do you think pubes refers to? Hairs? A part of the abdomen?

No. It refers to the hairs themselves. Nothing else. Single hair = single pube. Multiple hairs = pubes.

"Did you see his pube? It is on the floor."
"Did you see his pubes? They are on the floor."

Treat it like any other standard pluralisation.

 

[SimonDoom]

No. It refers to the hairs themselves. Nothing else. Single hair = single pube. Multiple hairs = pubes.

"Did you see his pube? It is on the floor."
"Did you see his pubes? They are on the floor."

Treat it like any other standard pluralisation.

I don't think it's that clear.

Merriam-Webster definition:

• the lower part of the abdomen at the front of the pelvis, covered with hair from puberty.
  * plural form of pubis
  
  This indicates it refers to the region, not the hair.
  
  It gives this example from a sentence in a work by Colleen McCulloch, of all people: "There were dancers who stripped to the buff …, displaying pubes devoid of the smallest hair … "
  
  I think you could have this sentence:
  
  "Dude, I saw her pubes."
  
  And it could mean either that he saw her hair or he saw her pussy. Depending on context, I think it can be singular or plural.
  
  
  Sometimes the conversations we have in this forum amaze me.

 

[MrHereWriting]

noun: pubes; plural noun: pubes

1. 1.
   the lower part of the abdomen at the front of the pelvis, covered with hair from puberty.
   
   
2. 2.
   plural form of pubis

Now here's a good example of why I always leave confused. How can the lower part of the abdomen be plural? It doesn't give a pronunciation.

You just hit the little microphone icon next to the definition and it'll pronounce the word for you.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I don't think it's that clear.

Merriam-Webster definition:

• the lower part of the abdomen at the front of the pelvis, covered with hair from puberty.
  * plural form of pubis
  
  This indicates it refers to the region, not the hair.
  
  It gives this example from a sentence in a work by Colleen McCulloch, of all people: "There were dancers who stripped to the buff …, displaying pubes devoid of the smallest hair … "
  
  I think you could have this sentence:
  
  "Dude, I saw her pubes."
  
  And it could mean either that he saw her hair or he saw her pussy. Depending on context, I think it can be singular or plural.
  
  
  Sometimes the conversations we have in this forum amaze me.

This might be a case where the dictionary definition doesn't quite capture the vernacular:

Oxford dictionary: pubis = one of the two bones that form the sides of the pelvis (which is a medical definition).

As a variant to the McCulloch reference above (wtf?), I'd say, "The dancer had a bare pubis," referring to the mound above the labia, at the base of her belly; but in my mind (and certainly in Australia), "pubes" is always the hair, not the flesh.


Suzie shaved her pubes, and proudly displayed her bare pubis.

"Nice," EB said, "but I liked your map of Tasmania."

"It's okay," Suzie replied. "It's different, not better. And besides, hair always grows back." She sighed, as she lowered herself to his mouth.


This is one of those informative conversations the forum is meant to have, not like the bullshit and bollocks in that thread over there -------->