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Here’s a linguistic quirk that can be somewhat perplexing for English speakers: The plural of “cul-de-sac” is “culs-de-sac.” This term is borrowed from French, where “cul-de-sac” literally translates to “bottom of the bag.” In English, it refers to a dead-end street or a road that leads to a circular space where traffic cannot continue.

When pluralized, the French convention of putting the adjective after the noun is retained, resulting in “culs-de-sac.” While it may seem unusual, this plural form is correct and follows the rules of French grammar. Language is full of these fascinating idiosyncrasies, and the odd pluralization of “cul-de-sac” is just one example of how language can evolve and adapt over time.