What Is the Plural of Donkey? Simple Rules and Common Mistakes

Ever stopped to think about how you say more than one donkey? It seems simple-until you hear someone say "donkeys" and wonder if that’s even right. Spoiler: it is. But not everyone gets it right, and the confusion isn’t just about spelling. It’s about how English plays tricks with words that look like they should follow different rules.

Why This Question Comes Up

You don’t usually question the plural of "donkey" unless you’re writing something formal, correcting a child, or arguing with a friend over coffee. But here’s the thing: donkey is one of those words that looks like it might break the rules. It ends in a consonant, sure-but so do dozens of other words that just add an "s". Why does this one feel weird?

It’s because of words like "mouse" and "child"-the ones that change completely in plural form. When you learn those early, your brain starts expecting all words to behave the same way. So when you see "donkey," you might think: "Does it become donkies? Donkies? Dones?"

It doesn’t. And that’s the good news.

The Simple Answer: Donkeys

The plural of donkey is donkeys. Just add an "s". No tricks. No silent letters. No vowel swaps. It’s straightforward.

That’s because donkey follows the most common pattern in English: regular pluralization. Most nouns ending in a consonant sound simply take an "s" at the end. Think of these:

• cat → cats
• book → books
• table → tables
• donkey → donkeys

No exceptions here. No "y" to change to "ies," no "f" to turn into "ves." Just an "s."

Where People Get Confused

The confusion usually comes from two places.

First, there’s the word "donkey" itself. It sounds a little funny-almost childish. That’s because it’s a relatively modern word in English, adopted in the 1700s as a more polite alternative to "ass." And "ass" has its own plural: "asses." So people sometimes think "donkey" should follow the same pattern. But it doesn’t. "Donkey" is its own word with its own rules.

Second, some people mix it up with words that end in "y." Like "baby" becomes "babies," or "city" becomes "cities." But here’s the rule: you change "y" to "ies" only if the "y" is preceded by a consonant. "Donkey" ends in "ey," and "e" is a vowel. So you just add "s."

Compare:

• monkey → monkeys (ends in "ey," vowel before "y")
• lady → ladies (ends in "y," consonant before "y")

Same logic applies to donkey. "E" is a vowel. So: donkeys.

Real-World Examples

You’ll hear "donkeys" used all the time in places where these animals are common. In rural parts of New Zealand, Australia, or Spain, you might see signs like:

• "Donkeys grazing near the trailhead"
• "We adopted three donkeys last spring"
• "The donkeys are fed at 7 a.m. every day"

Even in children’s books, you’ll find it:

"The donkeys brayed as the sun rose over the hill."

No one writes "donkies" in published work-not because it’s illegal, but because it’s wrong. Editors catch it. Teachers correct it. And if you’re writing a school essay or a job application, using "donkies" will stand out for the wrong reasons.

What About "Donkey’s"?

This is another common mix-up. People sometimes write "donkey’s" when they mean more than one. But "donkey’s" is possessive. It means something belongs to a donkey.

• "The donkey’s bray echoed across the valley." (One donkey owns the bray)
• "The donkeys’ brays echoed across the valley." (Multiple donkeys own the brays)

That apostrophe + "s" is for ownership, not quantity. Mixing those up is one of the most frequent grammar mistakes in English-and it’s easy to fix once you know the difference.

Why It Matters

You might think, "Who cares if someone says ‘donkies’?" But language isn’t just about being understood. It’s about precision, respect, and clarity.

If you’re writing a guide for farm visitors, a children’s educational app, or a wildlife documentary script, using the correct plural shows you know your stuff. It builds trust. It makes your content feel professional.

And if you’re a parent helping your kid with homework, getting this right helps them build a strong foundation. English has enough confusing rules without adding made-up ones.

Quick Reference: How to Pluralize Like a Pro

Here’s a simple checklist to avoid mistakes with words like donkey:

1. Does the word end in a consonant? → Add "s" (donkey → donkeys)
2. Does it end in "y" after a vowel? → Add "s" (donkey → donkeys, monkey → monkeys)
3. Does it end in "y" after a consonant? → Change "y" to "ies" (baby → babies, city → cities)
4. Is it one of the weird ones? (mouse → mice, person → people) → Memorize these. There are only about 10.
5. Need to show ownership? → Use apostrophe + "s" (donkey’s) or apostrophe after "s" for plurals (donkeys’)

Final Thought: Language Is Alive

English changes. Words get borrowed. Spellings shift. But "donkey" has been stable for centuries. It’s not going to suddenly become "donkies" just because it sounds funnier than "asses."

The plural is donkeys. Simple. Clear. Correct. Use it with confidence.