The spelling of the word "peoples" can be confusing for some English learners as it breaks the rule of adding only an apostrophe to make a plural noun possessive. In this case, "peoples" refers to multiple distinct groups of people. The correct spelling includes the "s" at the end of "people," which is pronounced /ˈpiːpəlz/. The addition of the "s" at the end signals that there are multiple groups of people, making "peoples" the plural form of "people."
Peoples (noun, plural) can be defined as distinct groups of human beings who are identified by various criteria such as shared culture, language, religious beliefs, or ethnic origin. This term emphasizes the diversity within the human population, acknowledging that different groups possess their own unique characteristics and ways of life.
Peoples refers to the collective bodies of individuals who form coherent communities or societies. These communities may be associated with a particular geographical region or share historical bonds, customs, and traditions. Variations within peoples can be observed in their social and political structures, economies, and modes of subsistence.
Furthermore, peoples can also be used to describe the inhabitants of a nation or country. It encompasses the citizens or residents of a specific nation-state, recognized for their collective identity, citizenship, and shared rights and obligations within that country.
The term "peoples" highlights the diversity and richness of human societies, celebrating the multitude of cultures, beliefs, and ways of life that exist worldwide. It acknowledges that the concept of people extends beyond mere individuals, encompassing the collective identities and shared experiences of groups that contribute to the global tapestry of humanity.
A name applied to a separate tribe or nation; one's people or one's own people, in Scrip., ancestors; relations; kindred.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "peoples" comes from the Old English word "péoplu" which was derived from the Proto-Germanic word "pǣplaz". This Proto-Germanic word is further connected to the Proto-Indo-European root "plē-", which means "to fill, to be full". Over time, the word evolved in various languages, including Middle English "peple" and eventually modern English "people". The word is used to refer to a group of human beings, a community, or a nation.