Foot or Feet: Which Is Correct? Singular, Plural & Usage

Foot or feet, which one should you use? The answer is simple: foot is singular, while feet is plural. The confusion usually starts with measurements. We say six feet tall, but a six-foot fence. Once you know how the word works as a noun and as part of a measurement, the difference is easy to remember.

Quick Answer:

✅ Foot = one
✅ Feet = more than one
✅ Six-foot = before a noun
✅ Six feet = a measurement

My foot hurts.
The wall is six feet high.

Foot vs. Feet

What Do “Foot” and “Feet” Mean?

Foot can refer to one foot of a person or animal, or to a unit of length. Feet is the plural form and is also used for measurements.

She injured her foot.
The table is three feet wide.

Why Does Foot Become Feet?

Foot has an irregular plural, so it does not become foots:

foot → feet

This vowel change is also found in words such as tooth → teeth.

When to Use Each

Use foot when you mean one:

He hurt his foot.

Use feet for two or more:

His feet were cold.

For measurements, the form depends on where the measurement appears.

Before a noun, use the singular form with a hyphen:

a 10-foot ladder

When the measurement stands on its own, use the plural:

The ladder is 10 feet tall.

You’ll also hear height written or spoken as six-foot-four for someone who is six feet four inches tall.

British vs. American English

British and American English follow the same basic rule. Foot is singular, feet is plural, and the measurement pattern stays the same.

Common Mistakes

❌ My foots hurt.
✅ My feet hurt.

❌ The wall is six-foot tall.
✅ The wall is six feet tall.

✅ It is a six-foot wall.

Pronunciation

Foot: /fʊt/
Feet: /fiːt/

The vowel sound changes along with the spelling.

6 Examples

1. My foot hurts after the long walk.
2. She washed her feet before bed.
3. The table is three feet wide.
4. They built a six-foot fence.
5. The building is 50 feet tall.
6. He is six-foot-four.

Memory Trick

One → foot
Two or more → feet

For measurements:

Before a noun → six-foot
As a measurement → six feet

Mini Quiz

1. What is the plural of “foot”?
A. Foots
B. Feets
C. Feet
D. Footies

2. Which sentence is correct?
A. My foots hurt.
B. My feet hurt.

3. Which form comes before a noun?
A. Six feet fence
B. Six-foot fence
C. Six-feet fence
D. Six foots fence

4. Which sentence is correct?
A. The fence is six-foot tall.
B. The fence is six feet tall.
C. The fence is six-feets tall.
D. The fence is six foots tall.

5. Which form expresses a height of six feet four inches?
A. Six-feet-four
B. Six-foot-four
C. Six-foots-four
D. Six-feet-four-foot

Answers: 1-C, 2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-B

FAQs

Is it foot or feet?

Foot is singular, while feet is plural.

Why is the plural feet instead of foots?

Because foot has an irregular plural: foot → feet.

Is it six-foot or six feet?

Use six-foot before a noun and six feet when the measurement stands alone.

Is six-foot-four correct?

Yes. It is a common way to express a height of six feet four inches.

Conclusion

Foot is singular and feet is plural. The main measurement rule is just as simple: use six feet when the measurement stands alone, but six-foot before a noun. Remember: one foot, two feet.

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William Strunk

William Strunk is a respected authority on English grammar, usage, and writing style, known for his influential work The Elements of Style. At EduNexxa, his focus is on clear, concise, and effective English.