Did you know that animals often live, move, or hunt together—and each group has its own special name in English? These names are called collective nouns. Learning them not only expands your vocabulary but also makes your English sound more natural and interesting. Let’s explore the most common and fun collective nouns for animals that every English learner should know!
What Are Collective Nouns?
A collective noun is a word used to describe a group of people, animals, or things.
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Example:
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A flock of birds = many birds together
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A school of fish = many fish swimming together
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These expressions help describe groups in a single phrase and are very common in spoken and written English.
Common Collective Nouns for Animals
Here are some popular examples of collective nouns for animals that you can use in your everyday English:
| Animal | Collective Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Lions | A pride of lions | We saw a pride of lions resting under the tree. |
| Birds | A flock of birds | A flock of birds flew across the sky. |
| Fish | A school of fish | A school of fish swam near the coral reef. |
| Cows | A herd of cows | The farmer led a herd of cows to the field. |
| Wolves | A pack of wolves | A pack of wolves howled in the distance. |
| Bees | A swarm of bees | A swarm of bees buzzed near the flowers. |
| Elephants | A herd of elephants | We saw a herd of elephants by the river. |
| Dolphins | A pod of dolphins | A pod of dolphins followed our boat. |
| Chickens | A flock of chickens | The farmer raised a flock of chickens. |
| Ants | A colony of ants | A colony of ants marched across the ground. |
Unusual and Fun Collective Nouns
Some animal groups have creative and poetic names that make English even more colorful:
| Animal | Collective Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Owls | A parliament of owls | A parliament of owls sat on the old tree. |
| Crows | A murder of crows | A murder of crows gathered near the barn. |
| Kangaroos | A mob of kangaroos | We saw a mob of kangaroos hopping in the field. |
| Monkeys | A troop of monkeys | A troop of monkeys played in the forest. |
| Frogs | An army of frogs | An army of frogs croaked after the rain. |
| Peacocks | An ostentation of peacocks | An ostentation of peacocks danced proudly. |
| Zebras | A dazzle of zebras | A dazzle of zebras grazed on the plain. |
| Whales | A pod of whales | A pod of whales surfaced near the boat. |
| Foxes | A skulk of foxes | A skulk of foxes hid among the bushes. |
| Cats | A clowder of cats | A clowder of cats slept in the sun. |
How to Use Collective Nouns in Sentences
Collective nouns are usually singular even though they refer to a group:
✅ A herd of elephants is crossing the road.
❌ A herd of elephants are crossing the road.
However, in British English, it’s also common to use a plural verb when the group acts as individuals:
✅ The flock of birds are flying in different directions.
