OK, so here's a thread which is going to really annoy a lot of people, so I'll apologise beforehand.
The plural of Lego is Lego, not Legos. If you have a lot of Lego bricks, you have a lot of Lego bricks, you don't have a lot of Legos, because Lego does not take the letter s in its plural form.
Like sheep.
I think the only people that get annoyed with this are non-Americans. Because in America we say LEGOs and we don't care what the European "proper" way is. Just like you spell "apologise" with an 's' while in the US it is "apologize". Same with color and colour. Who really cares?
shareYeah, I'm from 'Merica and I don't care what anybody else thinks! Yee haw! (and I am from the U.S.)
shareThe problem is that only a small minority says 'Merica. The majority of people say Lego's while a vast minority say Lego. Major difference.
share[deleted]
Okay, you should not be in this conversation because you don't even know how to use a plural S. By adding the apostrophe did you think you were correcting the OP?
Here is a lesson.
Door = Singular
Doors = Plural (Many)
Door's Handle = Possessive
I think the only people that get annoyed with this are non-Americans.
Not only non-Americans. In France they're Legos too.
shareSame in Portugal.
shareNo they aren't. They are only Legos to people that don't know they are wrong. Speak to more people about it. Lego is a brand, you don't pluralise a brand. Ever!
share[deleted]
Exactly. All those brands hate that also. And... we don't care as there are in fact no language police with any enforcement powers.
Well, that's patently incorrect. If I had to visit four Victoria's Secret store to find a bra in the colour I wanted, then I visited four Victoria's Secrets. If I ate two Kit Kat bars, then I ate two Kit Kats.....
I used to get annoyed by people saying Legos because it's brand, but there is a major supermarket chain in UK called Tesco, and me and literally everyone else I know calls it Tescos. When someone pointed this out to my I kinda learned to live with the Legos thing.
share[deleted]
The plural of Lego is Lego, not Legos.Well, that may be the way the Lego company prefers it, but honestly, it's a made-up brand name, and not an actual English word. It's not in the dictionary and there aren't any grammatical rules associated with it beyond those set down by the Lego company. So, since it's not a real word, I'm going to continue to call them Legos.
As a matter of history, the word Lego comes from the Danish words leg godt, which means "play well". Hypothetically, it may be that the Danish plural of Lego is Lego, and therefore we must adopt the same plural structure. I have no idea if this is true or not, but I offer as a matter of academic speculation.
and in english its legos
shareIt's because Americans are sheeps. Probably because they have too many moneys. They should wake up and smell the coffees.
shareActually, moneys (sic) and coffees are acceptable plurals in English, however the correct spelling of the former is "monies". FYI.
If you're a religion, you can have a canon. If you're a scifi franchise, get over yourself.
Airs, rices, grasses, waters and ups are probably acceptable plurals too.
We don't care. We still want the money Lebovski. Or we f_ck you ups.
The irreverences of American are a breaths of fresh airs for sure. But its also make them the jokes of the worlds. And perhaps even hated for theirs arrogances. But it not likes they gives a sh_ts about it.
Who cares where the S's go right? You're American you don't gives a f_cks.
its not arrogance to speak our own language sorry... no one is saying danish people can't follow lego's corporate orders to the letter... but americans apparently don't
shareWe wants them precious! We wants the airs, rices, waters and ups!!
Sorry, had to throw that in there.
Seriously though, who cares if people want to call them Legos? It's not like it's an established word in the dictionary. I can call them whatever I wish. Get over it.
-------------------------------------
http://federationlegacy.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
At the time I clicked on this thread it had something like 193 messages. and I was like "there's no way I'm going to click on that what could they possibly be arguing about that much that could be that interesting". OH My God!! I haven't laughed this much in along time. This is Hilarious!!!
Please, Keeps it ups!!!!
Holy sh¡t, get over yourself.
How do you even function in daily life with that giant tumor of unwarranted American hate hanging off your ass?
Bashing America is so last decade. *beep* off.
Monies means a different thing to the plural of Money.
Monies is money from a discreet or identifiable source. The term is used to group sources of money in accounting. Money is just money.
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
I'd say "En Lego Klods" "Flere Lego Klodser"
i.e. one brick of lego, multiple bricks of lego.
I'm from Denmark, and for my money you can say it however you like. I don't care either way.
People that say LEGOS have the intellect of a child. LEGOS is baby language. Adults with a modicum of intelligence say LEGO.
shareAdults with a modicum of intelligence say LEGO.
[deleted]
WHY do you believe the plural of Lego is Lego and not Legos?
shareBecause the LEGO company hates the word "Legos".
Just read this:
http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/10839/legos-not-lego
And Kleenex, Yo-yo, Aspirin, Band-aid, Jacuzzi, iPod, Q-tip, Taser, and Tylenol probably hate how their names are used too, but we still use all of them the way we like because the companies don't have any say in how we go about our day to day lives.
shareSorry, nope:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lego
LEGO
LEGO
[leg-oh] Show IPA
1.
Trademark. a brand of plastic blocks that can be locked together, used as a children’s building toy.
noun, plural LEGOs
This entry is wrong.
Since it is a brand name it is up to the brand owner what the plural is, not an online dictionary.
And LEGO has been pretty clear how it's brand should be described in plural.
http://web.archive.org/web/20040903113840/http://www.lego.com/errors/l egos.asp?domainredir=legos.com
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
It's up to them? How's that working out? They can say whatever they want, it still won't change the fact that they are LEGOs here in the USA.
But yeah, that link isn't even active anymore. Even LEGO has given up that fight.
It's working out fine. The vast majority of the world says Lego.
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
[deleted]
[deleted]
It's actually not up to the brand owner to regulate languages. Plus, if you actually want to follow the company's guidelines to the letter, you need to include a registered trademark symbol every time you write out the word in a plural or singular context. But if you went around telling people to do that you would sound pedantic and annoying, wouldn't you?
share.
Yeah let's pretend that making a small effort to say it like the entire rest of the world says is pedantic!
Like using the right number of letters and making the right sound with your mouth when you speak a name is the same as insisting we as 'tm' or (r) to the end of every brand!
Brilliant!
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
i hope the company that makes legos gives you a big promotion soon
you are the only account i have seen who has mastered the correct usage of corporate trademarks
your ability to follow the company's wishes is truly impressive... maybe its time to glue your parents to the ground?
Lego's are for kids and they pronounce it Lego's so that's what it always will be.
shareAnd here's the thing:
Almost all kids in the world say 'Lego'.
You can say what you like in America. It doesn't make it anything more than a colloquialism.
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
when the number 1 movie website in the world is Danish, then perhaps we'll listen to your zany translation theories
until then this is just tooo funny
I'm English. Just like the original inventors of this website.
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Kids say "I want to play with my Lego's." Not "I want to play with my Lego."
No kids in the world say "Lego", except maybe yours because you're incessantly and annoyingly "correcting" them all the time.
Kids say "I want to play with my Lego's." Not "I want to play with my Lego."
although to be fair, denmark is a little bit smaller than the average american bathtub... however good at using the internet
shareWhy are you talking about Denmark?
It should be clear to absolutely any idiot, that I am talking about kids everywhere else but America?
Evidently not every idiot...
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
well you keep trying to trick people on an english language website, to start using danish grammar
god knows why...
but anyways thats why i'm always reminding you that denmark is a pretty small corner of the world
Again: Its not Danish grammar.
Its the convention used by the rest of the world.
So your reminder is, as usual, irrelevant.
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
its a danish word and a danish company, but somehow the pluralization errors aren't because of danish grammar?????
good luck with that... you'll need it
It is a globally recognised brand name, not just a word.
And people from only one country in the world make an 'error' in its pluralisation.
And if you are representative of that country, it seems very, very proud of its mistake.
good luck with that... you'll need it
It is a brand name, not a word
ps that was your earlier quote, before you edited it...
even funnier, you write these things before you realize how wrong they sound LOL
Did the meaning change at all? No.
It is called being more clear.
A fuzzy-head like you would not understand.
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
No, not EXACTLY!!!!!!!
...your opinion of how its spelled (along with the entire population of denmark's) doesn't matter at all...
ESPECIALLY when translated into other languages
except you just admitted it isn't even a word LOLOLOLOL
game over man, game over
Oh dear... you really haven't been paying attention have you?
When did I claim Lego was not a name? How can anyone assume anyone thinks Lego isn't a name?
And even so, how does its status as a name preclude it from having an accepted correct application in language?
It doesn't. You really are master of the irrelevant.
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
oops, you actually wrote that it isn't a "word"
and yes, if its not a word, its "precluded from having an accepted correct application in language"
so anyways, guess i shouldn't have wished you good luck, if i'd known you'd just piss it away with repeated copyediting mistakes
legos ftw
Lets go basic for you:
One widely accepted correct application for the use of names in language is to precede them with a capital letter. Of course there are exceptions and they are generally led by the name owner.
Yes?
So why should Lego not have an accepted correct application?
Oh wait, it does. You just want to ignore it.
legos ftw
oops, you actually wrote that it isn't a "word"
so we can both agree that it isn't even a real word, but you still want people to follow the danish company-approved translation rules? under penalty of minor imdb spamming?
<rolls eyes>
No we can agree this:
I am pointing out the clear fact the majority of the world follows the same convention (which is considered the correct convention by the rest of the world and, in fact, the name owner itself).
I am pointing out the clear fact that the USA represents a minority exception.
And (if you are able to read between the lines) really this is what this all about, isn't it?:
The USA is the minority and on its own on this - and you don't want to accept it...
...Who knows, there may even be other things the USA is wrong about!
(UNTHINKABLE!)
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
the name owner
If course it is a real thing, you simpleton.
In this case: name owner = brand owner
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
if you knew anything about brand ownership, you'd know they have NO CONTROL over the use of "legos" (unless they own both)... any TM rules they establish only apply to the term that is TMed
but anyways you don't even know how to spell "of course"... so I rest my case, but still a little curious how they spell "of course" in danish
they have NO CONTROL over the use of "legos"
but anyways[sic] you don't even know how to spell "of course"
lol you made a BUNCH of typos, and you still don't even understand the concept of trademarks, which is even worse
probably be easier if you started editing your typos out and pretending they didn't happen, like you did before, i preferred it that way
legos still ftw
you made a BUNCH of typos
editing your typos out and pretending they didn't happen
well the first piece of evidence that you don't understand the concept of trademarks- is that you originally used the term "name owner" instead, which as you quickly admitted, is a made-up phrase that has probably never been used before by anyone
secondly you keep pushing this concept that the trademark owner of lego has any sort of control (or dibs) on how people use the term legos... which they don't
You need to look up the term "evidence"
I never stated name owner was an official term. It is just two English words that, when stuck together, make perfect sense. It isn't my fault you were expecting a conversation with Lego's global Brand Manager!
secondly you keep pushing this concept that the trademark owner of lego has any sort of control (or dibs) on how people use the term legos... which they don't
words that, when stuck together, make perfect sense
who do they make sense to?
you even admitted you were incorrect in using them...
and like everyone keeps telling you
when roughly 500 million people are using a certain term, they aren't simply "making words up"
or plurality?
shareNow you're learning!
Well done.
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
thanks i never thought it would be this easy to teach danish people statistics
but glad to see they now understand, whoever has the most legos gets to choose what they are called
There are more people outside of the US who have Lego though. Lego is sold is 130 countries worldwide. According to the US Toy Association, the US consistently makes up around 20% of the global toy market, and there is no evidence that Lego would be higher than that.
So, more people use, play with and buy Lego outside the US, compared to inside.
So what? Are you going to start saying Lego now?
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
so even you admit the biggest single customer for legos is the US... but we can't refer to them in our own language? Vitruvius would be ashamed
shareAs I have said before, you can make up any words you wish, if that is what floats your boat. The rest of the world continues regardless.
In the simplest of simple, easy to understand terms: More people say "Lego", than "Legos".
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
if there is so many of them, its a little weird that they don't have their own movie website and are stuck using the one where everyone says legos
share
More totally irrelevant nonsense. What does Amazon US's buyout of an originally British-made website have to do with a huge Danish Toy company?
More wildly inaccurate drivel: Not everyone says legos on this thread even! There are plenty of posters saying "Lego".
Should have written "No message" instead. It is in fact pretty much all you have been writing for the past few days anyway...
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
hahahaha i think everyone realizes that if it wasn't for these silly grammar threads... all the posters would be saying legos mostly, it being an american website and all
i'm sure theres some nice danish website where they always say legos the right way... i wish you the best of luck there
hahahaha i think everyone realizes that if it wasn't for these silly grammar threads... all the posters would be saying legos mostly, it being an american website and all
i'm sure theres some nice danish website where they always say legos the right way... i wish you the best of luck there
wow thats way higher than you estimated before... guess americans really are the biggest users of legos... good thing theres only a couple neurotypicals trying to tell us all how to talk (otherwise this would be getting weird hahaha)
shareNot the sharpest tool in the box are we?
...
This time, you are confusing "imdb site traffic"* with "global purchasers of Lego"**.
These are two different things which, by the way, both have the US as a minority. One is the universe of people registered and rating The Lego Movie on imdb, the other is the real world.
The imdb number is inflated because:
a) It isn't the real world
b) It is an English language website
c) The Lego Movie isn't released in all markets yet
d) The Lego Movie is an English language movie
* 47% US, based on Lego Movie imdb ratings
** 20% US, based on the US Toy Association stats
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Not really, because if you're discussing whether to add an "S" or leave it off when pluralizing the word "LEGO", you're screwing it up either way. You don't pluralize an adjective. You attach it to an actual noun and pluralize the noun.
shareIt's**
Come now, get your spelling and grammar correct.
If you have the right to tell me that "Legos" is improper, I get to tell you that "its" is a possessive and "it's" is the contraction of it is.
-------------------------------------
http://federationlegacy.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
Not really, as I was already clear on that. You are right of course, but what you spotted (in a 150+ post thread) was a just common typo. Thanks anyway Raymond!
Use of the term "Legos" is more than just a common typo as it is comes up in spoken word as well as written form, in the US only. Unlike a common typo, people also insist "Legos" is valid, despite that fact it is a brand, whose owner insists it is not (and all but the seems to US agree).
It is one thing realise a mistake when it is pointed out. It is something else altogether when you persist in repeating it through ignorance, arrogance or stubbornness.
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
The LEGO® Group can call their stuff whatever they want, but they can't dictate to the world how to say it. If y'all in the UK and everywhere else wanna call them "Lego", that's fine. I call them Legos when referring to them plurally. Guess what? The world will keep on turning even though we stupid retarded Americans might be saying a brand name slightly wrong.
I defer to:
ain't
y'all
yins
And many other colloquial terms originating here.
-------------------------------------
http://federationlegacy.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
You mean "kid's", right?
shareNarrow minded, provincial muppet.
shareOnly because you have miseducated them into the belief that American is the only recognised "language".
Do your kids walk on the "grasses" on the back lawn too?
Read an atlas - the world is bigger than the US.
I have a Lego-obsessed five-year-old son, and I have never heard him utter the word "Legos".
Incidentally, you don't make something plural by adding an apostrophe. That's how you form a possessive. But I'm sure you learned that in the second grade like everyone else did.
You can't even use an apostrophe correctly in the word Legos in a thread that has been using the word Legos over and over again? You must be pretty dumb.
Well you're making your argument in written form here on this forum, so I just thought you should know that by your own logic you're doing it wrong unless you write the word in all caps followed by an 'R' symbol because that's how the company would prefer that you do it.
A few more things:
1. Why is following a corporation's instructions inherently a good thing?
2. Since when is something "right" just because a majority does it?
3. Why does it matter if the U.S. follows a different custom than everyone else? Different English speaking countries spell "apologize" and "center" differently" and pronounce "lieutenant" differently, but everyone knows what everyone else means and the fact that different customs exist doesn't make one right and one wrong. There is no objective truth to be found on this issue.
4. The reason that you're finding many Americans to be strongly defensive on this issue has nothing to do with ignorance or a desire to impose a view on the rest of the world. It's because people who find joy in going around and correcting other people's minor grammatical errors are universally reviled by citizens of all countries and speakers of all languages. Extending that sense of smug superiority to nonexistent rules for made-up words isn't something that's likely to be well-received anywhere, much less on the Internet.
At last some GOOD questions:
1. It isn't - but Lego is a brand which has a generally positive image, and one that I would advocate. If we were talking about Shell, the conversation might be different. I might not put as much effort in.
2. It isn't, but it in the spirit of clarity of communication it is more likely to be "right". Local variations and dialects are fine - even necessary (and have the capacity to influence the norm), but good communication depends on agreement of meanings and conventions at any one point in time. That is a given, surely?
3. It doesn't - I came here yesterday in response the thread entitled: "In the REAL WORLD they are called LEGO's". As per answer 4 below, my issue is more with about the arrogant and jingoistic assumption that the USA is even close to representing the "real world". Most people (most Americans I know), unlike our friend Roger Irrelevant on this same thread, understand this.
4. On this I disagree, because you mistake this to be a conversation purely about grammar. This is more about the stubborn "Hell yeah 'Merica!" attitude that blights a generally positive outside (European at least) perspective of America. It is about the fact that the few Americans I am discussing this with are strongly defensive on this issue *full stop*.
America isn't always right, and on this topic - in which we discuss the identity of a beloved European global brand that does very little other than spread joy to in the world - it is the vaguely annoying minority.
I hope you better understand my point of view now.
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
not really, you're conflating meaning and spelling in #2
which, like i keep saying, is what someone without a good grasp of the language might do
and in #4 you're somehow mistaking attitude for grammar. This is purely a grammar/translation issue, as even you admitted previously.
also you keep saying americans are the "minority" who use legos incorrectly... so have you taken a look at their sales figures lately?
not really, you're conflating meaning and spelling in #2
This is purely a grammar/translation issue, as even you admitted previously.
also you keep saying americans are the "minority" who use legos incorrectly... so have you taken a look at their sales figures lately?
you are definitely not a native speaker, the more you write the easier it is to tell
and yes, if we're playing by "corporation rules" as you keep insisting, whoever buys the most legos is the majority...
WWLCD?
Majority means more than half.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majority
A majority is a subset of a set consisting of more than half of the set's elements. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset considered; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset considered may consist of less than half the set's elements. In British English, majority and plurality are often used as synonyms, and the term majority is also alternatively used to refer to the winning margin, i.e. the number of votes separating the first-place finisher from the second-place finisher.
its a little weird you admit that americans buy the most legos but then turn around and say we can't call them what we want...
shareYou are confusing "most", with "largest amount".
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
This guy right here knows what he's talking about.
I agree with everything you said, Duncan.
-------------------------------------
http://federationlegacy.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
Nope. You us the (R) or (TM) only where appropriate (typically with a product name, but only if the name has been trademarked, and NEVER with the name of a company), and you only use it for the first such instance on that page. (TM) is used when trademark has been claimed within that jurisdiction, and (R) is only for after the trademark claim has been approved by the appropriate governing body.
shareSo the plural of LEGO is LEGO and the plural of lego is either logo or legos, take your pick. The job of the dictionary writers is to describe how words are actually used, rather than how somebody thinks they should be used.
The LEGO company have to insist on LEGO because otherwise they could lose the trademark. If a competitor tried calling their product lego, they want to be able to show in court that they have vigorously defended the word LEGO.
None of this is very impoprtant - but I find it fun
I can't be bothered with a signature.
It seems only the US is stubborn on this. Even in Canada (except perhaps near the boarder) it remains "Lego".
sharegood thing the movie is american
shareWhat it is based on however, is not.
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
What's your point? They never use words LEGO or LEGOs in the movie.
shareHow is that relevant?
We are discussing the product.
And you might want to note the title of the film...
-------------
99% Complete: [||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
if you don't understand english grammar well enough to realize it's totally appropriate for the film's proper name to be singular and yet the little legos and pieces to be plural, then i'm really surprised you feel confident pushing some theory about required translation from danish corporate guidelines
share[deleted]
I was replying to this comment of yours...:
They never use words LEGO or LEGOs in the movie.
It's not being stubborn. It's the way we grew up and most people don't know any better. But so what?
sharePerpetuating ignorance is no excuse.
Its why its called The Lego Movie and not The Legos Movie
This signature has stupidity!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlgACO7ZBuw
It's the company name, that's why. Same reason the game isn't Legos Star Wars. Actually, you're using the term incorrectly yourself because it should be in all caps, not Lego. So deal with your own ignorance.
Well guess what? 300 million Americans aren't changing, so just deal with it. You can keep arguing all you want, but it won't matter. Doing something over and over and expecting a different result is what they call crazy.
But emphatically its not a movie about the company is it?
As for asserting 300million Americans....argumentum ad populum champ, its never normally a winning argument.
This signature has stupidity!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlgACO7ZBuw
but on language issues its definitely a winning argument
shareNot remotely so. Aren't you cute thinking that 300million is native speaking Americans that think or speak just like you
300million (actually quite a bit less than that) versus....... BILLIONS.
Hope full your education stretches to maths.
This signature has stupidity!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlgACO7ZBuw
of course, this ridiculous thread is pretty clear proof that we do all talk like that, at least when it comes to following legos orders
shareof course, this ridiculous thread is pretty clear proof that we do all talk like that, at least when it comes to following legos orders
I don't think you speak for all Americans because I am sure a large amount of them understand adult language and would never use Legos because it sounds like something a baby would say.
shareIt is a made up word in both languages, hence there are no real grammar rules for the plural form in either language. As for which form the company prefers, my childhood trumps their preference. Problem solved.
shareFor a start, the "English" or "American" interpretation is besides the point, it's a Danish company, and it is a brand name, regardless of what popular terms are in England and the US, they will have the correct pronunciation, plural etc.
LEGO is LEGO plural. If you have a LEGO brick, and add one more brick, you have 2 LEGO bricks, and you still have some LEGO, you do not have "LEGOS" as this implies you have several types of the same thing, which is a contradiction in terms.