Tomatoes or Tomato’s? The Correct Plural Spelling in English

Have you ever paused mid-sentence, wondering whether you should write “tomatoes” or “tomato’s”? You’re not alone. This small but mighty grammar conundrum trips up native speakers and English learners alike.

On the surface, it might look like a simple punctuation mix-up—but that tiny apostrophe can totally change the meaning of your sentence.

In today’s fast-paced world of texts, tweets, and auto-correct failures, it’s easy for spelling mistakes to sneak into your writing. And when a word ends in “o,” like “tomato,” the rules can get even trickier. Add the apostrophe in the wrong place, and suddenly your sentence might not make any sense at all.

So what’s the big deal? Well, grammar errors—especially the plural vs. possessive kind—can make your writing look unprofessional, even if you’re just posting on social media or jotting down a shopping list. Plus, learning how to use words like “tomatoes” correctly can make you a stronger communicator.

In this guide, we’ll dive deep into:

The correct plural form of “tomato”
Why “tomato’s” is often used incorrectly
Simple rules for pluralizing nouns ending in “-o”
Common grammar traps and how to avoid them
Real examples, fun facts, and tips you’ll actually remember

Let’s peel back the confusion once and for all—because it’s time to set the record straight.

✅ The Quick Answer: It’s “Tomatoes,” Not “Tomato’s”

Here’s the no-nonsense truth: the correct plural form of “tomato” is “tomatoes.” That’s it. Plain and simple.

The form “tomato’s” includes an apostrophe, which usually signals possession—not plurality. This means “tomato’s” should only be used when something belongs to a tomato (rare as that may be!).

Quick comparison:

✔ Tomatoes = more than one tomato
- “I bought three fresh tomatoes.”
❌ Tomato’s = something that belongs to a tomato
- “The tomato’s color was bright red.”

The confusion is common—but entirely avoidable once you understand how English treats words ending in “o.”

📚 Understanding Plurals in English: The Basics

Before diving into “tomato,” let’s quickly refresh how plurals work in English.

Plurals simply show that there’s more than one of something. Most of the time, making a noun plural is easy:

Add -s to the end: car → cars, dog → dogs
If the word ends in ch, sh, s, x, or z, add -es: box → boxes, wish → wishes
Some words are irregular: child → children, mouse → mice

Now, where does “tomato” fit in? This is where things get interesting.

🍅 Why It’s “Tomatoes” and Not “Tomatos”

Words ending in “o” tend to follow a special rule. If a word ends in a consonant + o, the plural usually adds -es instead of just -s.

That’s why we write:

Potato → potatoes
Hero → heroes
Tomato → tomatoes

However, English is nothing if not unpredictable. Some words ending in “o” just take -s, especially if they’re newer to the language or borrowed from other languages.

Examples that take just -s:

Photo → photos
Piano → pianos
Logo → logos

So how do you know which ones take -es and which don’t? There’s no perfect rule, but food-related words like potato and tomato almost always take -es.

Here’s a handy table to help:

Word Ending in “o”	Correct Plural	Rule Applied
Potato	Potatoes	Consonant + o → add -es
Tomato	Tomatoes	Consonant + o → add -es
Piano	Pianos	Exception → add -s only
Photo	Photos	Exception → add -s only

❗ What About “Tomato’s”? Why It’s Wrong as a Plural

Let’s clear up the apostrophe confusion once and for all.

Apostrophes are used for:

Possession
- “The tomato’s stem is green.” (The stem belongs to the tomato)
Contractions
- “The tomato’s rotting.” (Short for “tomato is”)

But here’s the kicker: apostrophes are never used to form plurals. So if you’re trying to talk about multiple tomatoes, writing “tomato’s” is incorrect.

Let’s break it down:

❌ “I sliced the tomato’s for the salad.” → Wrong!
✔ “I sliced the tomatoes for the salad.” → Correct!

The only time “tomato’s” is right is when it’s owning something or being used in a contraction. That’s it.

🧠 Why So Many People Get It Wrong

You might be wondering, “If the rules are so clear, why do people keep writing ‘tomato’s’?”

Great question. A few things contribute to this common mistake:

1. Autocorrect

Modern word processors sometimes insert an apostrophe when you don’t need one. And many people just accept it.

2. Overusing Apostrophes

It’s surprisingly common to see signs like:

“Fresh Apple’s for Sale”
“Banana’s 99¢”

It looks “right” because we see it so often—but it’s not.

3. Visual Confusion

Words ending in vowels already look “complete.” Adding -es might feel awkward visually.

4. Lack of Grammar Basics

Sadly, many schools no longer emphasize grammar as strongly as they used to. This leaves people guessing when they write.

So if you’ve made the mistake, don’t feel bad. The good news? You’re learning it now—and that’s what counts.

📖 Historical Background: The Word “Tomato”

Let’s rewind the clock and look at where this juicy little word came from.

The origin:

“Tomato” comes from the Nahuatl word tomatl, spoken by the Aztecs.
Spanish explorers adopted the word as “tomate.”
It eventually made its way into English in the 1500s, becoming “tomato.”

English speakers pluralized it according to the grammar rules of the time—which favored -es for words ending in a consonant + “o.”

And that tradition continues today.

🗣 How to Use “Tomatoes” in a Sentence (With Examples)

Let’s see “tomatoes” in action to lock in your understanding.

Everyday examples:

“She tossed fresh tomatoes into the salad.”
“The tomatoes ripened in the sun.”
“He bought a crate of cherry tomatoes.”

Funny or quirky examples:

“Tomatoes are the only food that can start a fight between ‘Team Fruit’ and ‘Team Vegetable.’”
“I don’t trust people who refrigerate their tomatoes.”

Just to hammer it home:

❌ “The tomato’s are juicy.”
✔ “The tomatoes are juicy.”

See the difference?

🧪 Fun Facts About Tomatoes (Just for Flavor!)

Let’s take a break from grammar and enjoy a few tomato tidbits.

🍅 Botanically, tomatoes are fruits—but in cooking, they’re treated as vegetables.
🍅 There are over 10,000 varieties of tomatoes worldwide.
🍅 The heaviest tomato ever grown weighed over 10 pounds!
🍅 Tomatoes were once thought to be poisonous in Europe.
🍅 They contain more genes than humans—over 30,000!

Fun, right? Even grammar can be tasty when served with a side of trivia.

🧩 Common Questions About Tomato Grammar (FAQs)

Q: Is “tomato’s” ever correct?
A: Yes—only when showing possession (The tomato’s skin is soft) or as a contraction (The tomato’s rotting).

Q: What’s the plural of “cherry tomato”?
A: Cherry tomatoes. Just like “tomatoes,” you add -es to make it plural.

Q: Can “tomatoes’” ever be used?
A: Yes. That’s the plural possessive form. Example: The tomatoes’ color varies depending on the type.

Q: Why does “potato” follow the same rule?
A: Because it also ends in a consonant + “o.” That’s why it becomes “potatoes.”

Q: How can I teach my kids the difference?
A: Use flashcards, read aloud, and make it visual—draw tomatoes with apostrophes to show possession vs. simple groups of tomatoes for plural!

📘 Summary Table: Plural vs. Possessive vs. Singular

Word Form	Type	Example Sentence
Tomato	Singular	I ate a tomato.
Tomatoes	Plural	She picked ripe tomatoes from the garden.
Tomato’s	Singular Possessive	The tomato’s skin is thin.
Tomatoes’	Plural Possessive	The tomatoes’ flavor was intense.

📌 Final Thoughts: Let’s Never Get It Wrong Again

Let’s wrap this up. When talking about more than one tomato, the correct word is always “tomatoes.” Not “tomatos,” and definitely not “tomato’s.”

Yes, apostrophes have their place—but forming plurals isn’t one of them. Stick with the simple rule: if it’s more than one, drop the apostrophe and add -es.

You’ve now got the tools to write confidently, whether you’re posting a recipe, teaching your child grammar, or crafting a clever Instagram caption. Let’s leave the confusion behind—and write “tomatoes” right.