Collective nouns are important linguistic tools that play a vital role in the English language. These terms refer to a group of people, animals, objects, or ideas as a single entity. Common examples include “team,” “flock,” and “group.” By forming an image of multiple units as one, collective nouns allow for efficient communication and create a sense of unity when referring to a collection of individuals or things.
If you are looking to name a group of things whilst speaking or writing in the English language, you are going to need to use a collective noun. This is a type of noun that we see very often in the language and it is important that you are aware of how they function within a sentence.
What Is A Collective Noun?
Collective Noun Definition
A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. It is an essential part of speech, and it can be singular or plural. Examples of nouns include “cat,” “house,” and “joy.”
A collective noun is a special type of noun that refers to a group or collective of people, animals, things, or ideas. These nouns generally appear singular in formal grammar but represent multiple individuals or objects. Examples of collective nouns are “team,” “flock,” and “bunch.”
Collective nouns describe a group:
- The team is playing well.
- The flock of birds flew away.
- Sarah brought a bunch of flowers.
Usage of Collective Nouns in Sentences
When using collective nouns in sentences, it’s essential to pay attention to subject-verb agreement. Since collective nouns are typically treated as singular entities, they often require singular verbs. However, some cases might require plural verbs, depending on the context and meaning.
Singular verb example:
- The committee is meeting tomorrow.
Plural verb example:
- The team are wearing their new uniforms.
Common Collective Nouns
Here are some examples of collective nouns that represent different entities:
People:
- Audience
- Crew
- Staff
Animals:
- Herd
- Pride
- Swarm
Things:
- Set
- Bundle
- Collection
Common Collective Nouns Examples
- What is a group of girls called? A bevy of girls, a giggle of girls
- What is a group of boys called? A blush of boys, a rascal of boys
- What is a group of cats called? A glaring of cats, a cluster of cats, a clutter of cats
- What is a group of ferrets called? A business ferrets, a cast of ferrets
- What is a group of giraffes called? A journey of giraffes, a herd of giraffes, a tower of giraffes
Examples of Collective Nouns
Common Collective Nouns
Collective nouns are words that describe a group of people, animals, or things. They usually represent a whole rather than individual members. Some common collective nouns include:
- Team: a group of players, sportsmen, or workers
- Board: a group of directors or administrators
- Band: a group of musicians
- Pack: a group of animals, such as dogs or wolves
- Crowd: a large group of people
- Bunch: an informal term for a group of items or people
- Set: a collection of similar items
- Committee: a group of decision-makers
- Pair: two similar items or persons
Collective Nouns for Animals
There are numerous collective nouns specifically used for animals, some of which are unique and interesting in their application. A few examples include:
- Flock: a group of birds or sheep
- Herd: a group of large animals, such as cows, elephants, or deer
- Swarm: a large, moving group of insects or small animals
- Gang: a group of animals, such as elk or turkeys
- Mob: a group of kangaroos or emus
- Parliament: a group of owls
Specific Collective Nouns
Here are a few more specific examples of collective nouns:
- Range: a series of mountains
- Army: a large group of soldiers
- Family: a group of related individuals
- Staff: a group of employees or workers
- Crew: a group of people working together on a ship, aircraft, or train
- Choir: a group of singers
- Panel: a group of experts or judges
- Troupe: a group of performers, such as actors or dancers
- Pile: a stack of objects, such as wood or bricks
- Ravens: an unkindness of ravens
- Lions: a pride of lions
- Dogs: a pack of dogs, a kennel of dogs (when domesticated)
- Cows: a herd of cows, a kine of cows (when in a group of 12 or more)
- Fleet: a group of ships or vessels
- Forest: a dense collection of trees
- Unit: an organized group of people with a common goal or purpose, such as a military unit
- Jury: a group of people selected to render a verdict in a trial
- Audience: a group of spectators or listeners
- Shoal: a group of fish
- Heap: a pile of items or objects
- Stack: an orderly arrangement of objects, one on top of another
- Shower: a brief, heavy fall of a substance, such as rain or meteors
- Fall: a large number of items or people moving, such as leaves falling from trees
- Galaxy: a vast group of stars
- Wad: a thick bundle or mass of soft material, such as paper or cloth
- Organization: a group of people working together for a common purpose, often formal in structure
Collective Nouns List
Learn an extensive list of collective nouns in English with example sentences and ESL printable worksheets to increase your English vocabulary.
List of Common Group Names
Group Name “Herd”
Collective noun examples:
- A herd of antelope
- A herd of boar
- A herd of buffaloes
- A herd of caribou
- A herd of cattle
- A herd of chamois
- A herd of chinchillas
- A herd of cows
- A herd of cranes
- A herd of deer
- A herd of donkeys
- A herd of elephants
- A herd of elk
- A herd of fairies
- A herd of giraffes
- A herd of gnus
- A herd of goats
- A herd of horses
- A herd of llamas
- A herd of moose
- A herd of oxen
- A herd of pigs
- A herd of ponies
- A herd of sea horses
- A herd of seals
- A herd of swans
- A herd of swine
- A herd of walruses
- A herd of whales
- A herd of wolves
- A herd of wrens
- A herd of yaks
- A herd of zebras
Group Name “Pack”
Collective nouns list:
- A pack of bears (polar bears)
- A pack of coyotes
- A pack of dogs
- A pack of grouse
- A pack of gulls
- A pack of hounds
- A pack of mongooses
- A pack of mules
- A pack of rats
- A pack of sharks
- A pack of stoats
- A pack of weasels
- A pack of wolves
Group Name “Flock”
Collective nouns list:
- A flock of birds
- A flock of bustards
- A flock of camels
- A flock of chickens
- A flock of ducks
- A flock of geese
- A flock of goats
- A flock of parrots
- A flock of pigeons
- A flock of seagulls
- A flock of sheep
- A flock of swifts
- A flock of tourists
- A flock of turkeys
Group Name “Swarm”
Collective nouns list:
- A swarm of ants
- A swarm of bees
- A swarm of butterflies
- A swarm of eels
- A swarm of flies
- A swarm of gnats
- A swarm of insects
- A swarm of rats
Group Name “Shoal”
Collective noun examples:
- A shoal of bass
- A shoal of fish
- A shoal of herrings
- A shoal of pilchards
- A shoal of salmon
Group Name “Group”
Collective nouns list:
- A group of guinea pigs
- A group of islands
- A group of people
- A group of dancers
- A group of engineers
Group Name “Crowd”
Collective noun examples:
- A crowd of onlookers
- A crowd of people
Group Name “Gang”
Collective nouns list:
- A gang of hoodlums
- A gang of laborers
- A gang of slaves
- A gang of thieves
- A gang of criminals
- A gang of crooks
- A gang of hoodlums
- A gang of prisoners
Group Name “Mob”
Collective nouns list:
- A mob of emus
- A mob of kangaroos
- A mob of meerkats
- A mob of thieves
- A mob of sheep
- A mob of kangaroos
- A mob of rioters
Group Name “Staff”
Group names examples:
- A staff of employees
- A staff of servants
Group Name “Crew”
Group names examples:
- A crew of sailors
Group Name “Choir”
Group names examples:
- A choir of angels
Group Name “Orchestra”
Group names examples:
- An orchestra of musicians
Group Name “Panel”
Group names examples:
- A panel of experts
Group Name “Board”
Group names examples:
- A board of directors
- A board of trustees
- A board of chess players
Group Name “Troupe”
Collective nouns list:
- A troupe of monkeys
- A troupe of shrimp
- A troupe of dancers
- A troupe of minstrels
- A troupe of performers
Group Name “Bunch”
Group names examples:
- A bunch of seals
- A bunch of pigeons
Group Name “Pile”
Group names examples:
- A pile of books
Group Name “Heap”
Group names examples:
- A heap of trash
Group Name “Set”
Group names examples:
- A set of bowls
- A set of utensils
Group Name “Stack”
Group names examples:
- A stack of books
Group Name “Series”
Group names examples:
- A series of events
- A series of photos
Group Name “Shower”
Group names examples:
- A shower of bastards
Group Name “Fall”
Group names examples:
- A fall of lambs
- A fall of woodcock
List of Collective Nouns for Animals, People and Things
Collective Nouns List for People
In English, collective nouns for people are names for a number or a collection of people.
List of collective nouns for people in English.
- A circle of friends
- A class of pupils
- A horde of savages
- A host of angels
- A house of senators
- A joint of osteopaths
- A lie/An equivocation of politicians
- A line of kings/rulers
- A melody of harpists
- A mess/An execution of officers
- A meter of percussionists
- A mob of rioters
- A morbidity of majors
- A mug/A reflection of narcissists
- A multiply/An unhappiness of husbands
- A mutter of mothers-in-law
- A wisdom of grandparents
- A number/A set of mathematicians
- A pack of Brownies
- A pack of thieves
- A pan of reviewers
- A panel of experts
- A party of friends
- A patrol of policemen
- A peck of Frenchmen
- A picket of strikers
- A pint of Irishmen
- A pity/A gang of prisoners
- A plush/A rascal of boys
- A pomposity of professors
- A posse of police
- A posse of sheriffs
- A pound of Englishmen
- A promise of barmen
- A prudence of vicars
- A quiz of teachers
- A rage of maidens
- A rash of dermatologists
- A regiment of soldiers
- A rookery/A school of clerks
- A rout of schoolboys
- A sample of salesmen
- A school of clerks
- A scolding of seamstresses
- A scoop/A slant of journalists
- A sentence of judges
- A series of radiologists
- A set/A subtlety of designers
- A set/A swish of hairdressers
- A shower of bastards
- A shower of meteorologists
- A shrivel of critics
- A shuffle of bureaucrats
- A side of dancers
- A simplicity of subalterns
- A poverty of pipers
- A slate of candidates
- A slither of gossip columnists
- A slouch of models
- A sneer of butlers
- A sprig of vegetarians
- A squad of beaters
- A squad of soldiers
- A squat of daubers
- A squeal of nieces
- A staff of employees
- A staff of servants
- A staff of teachers
- A stalk of foresters
- A subtlety of sergeants at law
- A superfluity of nuns
- A tabernacle of bakers
- A talent of gamblers
- A tantrum of decorators
- A team of athletes
- A team of players
- A thought of barons
- A tribe of Indians
- A tribe of natives
- A trip of hippies
- A troop of boy scouts
- A troupe of acrobats
- A troupe of artistes
- A troupe of dancers
- A troupe of performers
- A wandering of tinkers
- A wheeze of joggers
- A worship of writers
- An absence/An order of waiters
- An alley/A pratfall of clowns
- A brace/A wince of dentists
- An amalgamation of metallurgists
- An amble of walkers
- An ambush of widows
- An army of soldiers
- A roll of drummers
- An attitude/A grunt of teenagers
- An audience of listeners
- An eloquence of lawyers
- An embarrassment /A persistence of parents
- An entrance of actresses
- An expectation of heirs
- An expectation of midwives
- An obscurity/A rhyme of poets
- An illusion of magicians
- An impatience of wives
- An imposition of in-laws
- An obeisance of servants
- An observance of hermits
- An obstruction of dons
- …
Learn more: Collective Nouns for People
Collective Nouns List for Animals
In English, a collective noun for animals refers to a collection or a group of animals taken as a whole.
List of collective nouns for animals in English.
List of Collective Nouns for Birds
- A cloud of seafowls
- A colony/A flock/A raft of auks
- A colony of avocets
- A colony of gulls
- A colony of ibises
- A colony/A parcel/A rookery of penguins
- A covey/A brace/A brood/A flight/A pack of grouse
- A covey/A bevy/A clutch/A warren of partridges
- A covey of ptarmigans
- A crowd of redwings
- A descent of woodpeckers
- A desert/A deceit of lapwings
- A fall/A covey/A flight/A plump of woodcocks
- A flight of birds
- A flight/A gulp of cormorants
- A flight of goshawks
- A flight/A flock/A kit/A passel of pigeons
- A flight/A gulp of swallows
- A fling of dunlins
- A fling of sandpipers
- A flock of birds
- A flock of bustards
- A flock of swifts
- A flock of turkeys
- A flush of ducks
- A head/A herd of curlews
- A herd/A flock of wrens
- A hill of ruffs
- A host/A quarrel/A tribe/A ubiquity of sparrows
- A murder/A hover/A muster/A parcel of crows
- A chattering/A cloud/A congregation/A clutter of starlings
- A muse of capons
- A muster/An ostentation/A pride of peacocks
- A mustering/A flight/A phalanx of storks
- A mutation of thrushes
- A bouquet/A head/A warren of pheasants
- A parcel of linnets
- A parliament/A stare of owls
- A pitying of turtledoves
- A plump of moorhens
- A plump/A bunch/A knob/A raft of waterfowls
- A pod/A scoop of pelicans
- A prattle of parrots
- A pride/A flock of ostriches
- A rafter of turkeys
- A run of poultry
- A sedge/A siege of bitterns
- A sedge/A herd/A sedge/A siege of cranes
- A sedge/A flight/A hedge/A rookery/A siege of herons
- A flush/A puddling of mallards
- A spring/A bunch/A coil/A knob/A raft of teals
- A squabble of seagulls
- A stand of flamingos
- A trip of dotterels
- A trip/A bunch/A knob/A lute/A skein of wildfowls
- A wake of buzzards
- A walk/A wisp of snipes
- …
List of Collective Nouns for Mammals
- A glaring/A cluster/A clutter of cats
- A cluster/A herd/A tribe of antelopes
- A coalition of cheetahs
- A cohort/A herd/A zeal of zebras
- A colony/A family/A lodge of beavers
- A colony of chinchillas
- A colony/A horde/A mischief/A swarm of rats
- A colony of voles
- A congress/A flange/A troop of baboons
- A coterie/A town of prairie dogs
- A couple of impalas
- A cowardice of curs
- A crash/A herd/A stubbornness of rhinoceroses
- A destruction of (wild) cats
- A destruction of wildcats
- A drift/A trip of (tame) swine
- A dray/A colony of squirrels
- A drift/A drove/A parcel of hogs
- A drove of bullocks
- A drove/A drift/A flock/A herd of pigs
- A drove/A herd of swine
- A fall of lambs
- A family/A bevy/A raft/A romp of otters
- A farrow/A litter of piglets
- A field/A string of racehorses
- A gang/A herb/An obstinacy of buffalos
- A gang/A herd of elks
- A grind of bottle-nosed whales
- A group of guinea pigs
- A herd/A gang of bisons
- A herd/A leash of bucks
- A herd of caribous
- A herd/A drift/A drove/A mob of cattle
- A herd of chamois
- A herd/A drove of donkeys
- A herd of elands
- A herd/A parade of elephants
- A herd/An implausibility of gnus
- A herd of hartebeests
- A herd of harts
- A herd of ibexes
- A herd of llamas
- A herd of moose
- A herd of wildebeests
- A herd of yaks
- A horde of gerbils
- A horde of hamsters
- A huddle/A herd/An ugly of walruses
- A husk of jackrabbits
- A journey/A group/A herd/A tower of giraffes
- A kindle/A litter of kittens
- A kindle of leverets
- A labor/A company/A movement of moles
- A leap of leopards
- A leash of greyhounds
- A litter of cubs
- A litter of pups
- A mischief/A horde/A nest/A trip of mice
- A mob/A troop of kangaroos
- A mob of wombats
- A nursery/A gaze of raccoons
- A pace/A drove/A coffle/A herd of asses
- A pack/A band/A rout of coyotes
- A pack/A kennel of dogs
- A pack/A trip of stoats
- A pack/A herd/A rout of wolves
- A parcel of hinds
- A pod/A flock/A school/A team of dolphins
- A prickle of porcupines
- A pride/A flock/A sault/A troop of lions
- A rake/A rack/A rag of colts
- A richness of martens
- A school/A herd/A pod of porpoises
- A shrewdness/A troop of apes
- A skulk/An earth/A lead/A leash/A troop of foxes
- A sloth of bears
- A sneak/A gang/A pack of weasels
- A sounder of (wild) boars
- A sounder of (wild) pigs
- …
List of Collective Nouns for Sea Animals
- A glide of flying fish
- A glint/A troubling of goldfish
- A grind of blackfish
- A herd of seahorses
- A pack of perch
- A party of rainbow fish
- A quantity of smelts
- A school of butterfly fish
- A school of cod
- A shiver/A school/A shoal of sharks
- A shoal/A catch/A draught/A fray/A haul/A run/A school of fish
- A shoal of mackerel
- A shoal/A steam/A stream/A swarm of minnows
- A shoal/A school of pilchards
- A shoal of roach
- A shoal of shads
- A shoal/A spread of sticklebacks
- A squad of squid
- A swarm of dragonet fish
- A swarm of eels
- A troop of dogfish
- A troupe of shrimp
- …
List of Collective Nouns for Insects
- A colony/An army/A bike/A swarm of ants
- A swarm/A bike/A cast/A cluster/A drift/A game/A hive/A stand/A rabble/A grist of bees
- A bike of (wild) bees
- A flight/A rabble/A swarm of butterflies
- An army of caterpillars
- An intrusion of cockroaches
- A swarm/A cloud/A business/A grist/A hatch of flies
- A cloud/A cluster/A swarm of grasshoppers
- A bike/A nest/A swarm of hornets
- A flight/A horde/A plague/A rabble/A swarm of insects
- A flock/A colony/An infestation of lice
- A plague/A cloud/A swarm of locusts
- A scourge/A swarm of mosquitoes
- A clutter/A cluster of spiders
- …
Learn more: Collective Nouns for Animals
Collective Nouns List for Things
List of collective nouns for things in English.
- A piece of jewellery
- A pile of money
- A drop of rain
- A ray of sunshine
- A pinch of salt
- A bar of soap
- A tube of toothpaste
- A ball of wool
- A bar of soap
- A battery of tests
- A bolt of lightning
- A bunch of books
- A bunch of keys
- A bunch of keys
- A chest of drawers
- A clump of reeds
- A deck of cards
- A fleet of ships
- A fleet of vehicles
- A flight of stairs
- A gallon of gasoline
- A group of friends
- A group of islands
- A grove of trees
- A hedge of bushes
- A library of books
- A pack of cards
- A pair of shoes
- A piece of furniture
- A piece of paper
- A quiver of arrows
- A ream of paper
- A roll of film/cloth
- A series of events
- A set of books
- A set of tools
- A shelf of books
- A stack of chairs
- A suite of furniture
- A suite of rooms
- …
Collective Nouns List for Food and Drinks
List of collective nouns for food and drinks in English.
- A bar/A square of chocolate
- A batch of cakes
- A bottle of milk
- A bowl of rice
- A box of cereal
- A can of soda
- A carton of milk
- A cup of tea
- A glass of water
- A jar of honey
- A jug of water
- A kilo of meat
- A kilo of sugar
- A loaf of bread
- A packet of tea
- A piece of cheese
- A piece of chocolate
- A pile of cookies
- A slice of bread
- A slice of pizza
- A tub of margarine
- …
Collective Nouns List | Group Names | Videos
FAQs on Collective Nouns
What is a collective noun?
A collective noun is a word that refers to a group of people, animals, or things, and is treated as a singular entity. Examples include “team,” “flock,” and “bunch.”
Are collective nouns singular or plural?
Collective nouns are typically treated as singular, though there are some cases where they can be treated as plural, depending on the context and meaning of the sentence.
What are the different types of collective nouns?
Collective nouns can be categorized in three main types:
- People: Examples include “army,” “league,” “electorate,” “team,” and “class.”
- Animals: Examples include “herd” (for cattle), “pod” (for whales), and “pride” (for lions).
- Things: Examples include “bundle” (for sticks), “set” (for dishes), and “fleet” (for ships).
How do I use collective nouns in a sentence?
When using collective nouns in a sentence, ensure the noun agrees with the verb form. For instance, if you’re treating the collective noun as singular, use a singular verb. If treating it as plural, use a plural verb. Take the example: “The team is playing well” (singular), versus “The team are in disagreement” (plural).
Can collective nouns have different forms for different groups of animals?
Yes. Collective nouns for groups of animals can vary, and many are specific to the animals they describe. Some examples include:
- A “murder” of crows
- A “gaggle” of geese
- A “clowder” of cats
Related:
- Types of Nouns in English
- Collective Nouns Examples
- Possessive Nouns
- Countable & Uncountable Nouns
- List of Concrete Nouns
- Abstract Nouns List
- Regular Plural Nouns
- Irregular Plural Nouns
- Gender of Nouns
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