When you work in SEO and spend a lot of time looking at search queries on Google you tend to stumble upon some funny things that people search for.
It happened to me yesterday, when Google Suggest churned out: “my butler disappeared”. Turns out, the term is related to disappearing butlers in The Sims 3.
Out of context, words and phrases can be weird. And our love for the English language here recently took me and our graphic designer down the road of collective nouns.
We thought we’d create this funny list for you and bring them to life with illustrations … for no real reason other than to make you smile at the end of a hard week.
Did you know the collective noun for butlers is a ‘sneer of butlers’? Harsh.
See if you like them and share your personal favourites in the comments (if our designer gets the time, she might just create a new illustration for you)
A Bike of Bees
Collective Noun for Bees isa Bike of Bees
It’s amusing to imagine a swarm of bees flying in bicycle formation, but the real reason this is a collective noun for bees is because the word “bike” is an old English word which means a colony, nest, or swarm.
Source: www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/collective/h/
A Family of Sardines
Collective Noun for Sardines is a Family of Sardines
We love this one because it calls to mind images of a nuclear family of small fish. We’re not sure of the origin of this collective noun (though we think it could be related to the tin-can they end up in!).
Source: http://www.dw.com/en/what-do-you-call-a-group-of-sardines/a-18250945
A Glaring of Cats
One of the Collective Nouns for Cats is a Glaring of Cats
The definition of glaring is “having a fixed look of hostility, fierceness, or anger”, which accurately describes how my cat looks at me pretty much all of the time. We can see why this collective noun was chosen for cats!
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glaring
A Rhumba of Rattlesnakes
Collective Noun for Rattlesnakes is a Rhumba of Rattlesnakes
If you’ve ever seen two male rattlesnakes fighting in competition for dominance of a female, you’ll understand why a “rhumba” has been used as the collective noun for this venomous reptile. There’s a lot of slow, deliberate weaving followed by quick, sharp movements that closely resemble the slow-quick-quick pattern of the American Rhumba dance.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhumba
GIF: https://j.gifs.com/kR2W16.gif
A Mess of Iguanas
To understand why a group of iguanas is called a “mess”, you just need to look. In the wild, iguanas lie intertwined in large groups and it can be difficult to see where one iguana ends and another begins. The reason for this is that iguanas are cold-blooded so they regulate their body temperature by basking in the sun.
An Army of Caterpillars
This collective noun likely describes the behaviours exhibited by caterpillars when they travel in large groups. What’s great about these armies of caterpillars is that they’re incredibly well organised. They participate in cooperative foraging for food, group defence against predators, shelter building & thermoregulation.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_caterpillars
A Nest of Rumours
A nest of rumours is the only collective noun on this list that’s not related to animals. We love this one because it evokes the image of a hidey-hole where scandalous information is being amassed – undoubtedly for later use.
Source: http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/collnoun.htm
A Gang of Elks
Yes, a group of elk is called a gang. Yes, the elk in the image above are carrying guns and sporting bandanas. Groups of elk may have been labelled as gangs because elk bulls do something called ‘bugling’ – loud screaming which can be heard for miles and miles. What a bunch of thugs!
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elk#Behavior
A Huddle of Walruses
A group of walruses can also be called a ‘herd’ or a ‘pod’, but we like ‘huddle’ best. Walruses are most often found sunbathing on land or sea ice with hundreds of their companions. Walruses are very sociable creatures and even amass in their thousands in mating season. What’s also interesting is that these huddles are often segregated by gender –males have their own huddles and females have their own huddles.
Source: http://www.livescience.com/27442-walrus-facts.html
A Bed of Clams
A group of clams is known collectively as a ‘bed’ of clams. This collective noun conjured up an image of hundreds of clams cosily sleeping side-by-side. ‘A bed of’ can also be used to describe a group of snakes, oysters or flowers.
Source: http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/collnoun.htm
A Shiver of Sharks
One of our favourite collective nouns on the list is the name for a group of sharks – a ‘shiver’. We think it could be suggestive of what happens to a person who stumbles across a group of sharks while out swimming. Or it could relate to the fact that most sharks are cold-blooded.
Source: http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/collnoun.htm
A Crash of Rhinoceroses
One of the best and most well-known of all collective nouns is a ‘crash’ of rhinoceroses. Rhinos gather on the African grassy plains in groups of up to twelve. However, the collective noun was most likely inspired by the rhino’s tendency to charge at anything unfamiliar, although fights between rhinos are rare because male rhinos (or bulls) tend to avoid each other unless they are competing for the same female.
Source: http://www.africa-wildlife-detective.com/black-rhino.html
A Horde of Hamsters
What makes this collective noun so hilarious is that it conjures up images of an army or tribe of primitive warriors. We’d be far more likely to relate a ‘horde’ of something with a group of zombies, goblins or orcs – not a group of small, fluffy rodents!
Source: http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/collnoun.htm
A Kindle of Kittens
The collective noun for a group of kittens is known as a kindle. It relates to the verb to kindle which means ‘to give birth to young’. But we thought it would be fun anyway to visualise a group of kittens climbing out of an e-reader.
Source: http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/collnoun.htm
Collective Nouns List
Want more collective nouns? Here’s a list of collective nouns for every animal we could find…
Animal | Collective Noun | In It’s Written Context |
A | ||
Aardvark | armoury | an armoury of aardvark |
Albatrosses | flock | a flock of albatrosses |
Albatrosses | rookery | a rookery of albatrosses |
Albatrosses | gam | a gam of albatrosses |
Alligators | congregation | a congregation of alligators |
Alpacas | herd | a herd of alpaca |
Ants | army | an army of ants |
Ants | bike | a bike of ants |
Ants | colony | a colony of ants |
Ants | nest | a nest of ants |
Ants | swarm | a swarm of ants |
Anteaters | candle | a candle of anteaters |
Antelope | herd | a herd of antelope |
Antelope | cluster | a cluster of antelope |
Antelope | tribe | a tribe of antelope |
Apes | shrewdness | a shrewdness of apes |
Apes | troop | a troop of apes |
Armadillos | roll | a roll of armadillos |
B | ||
Baboons | flange | a flange of baboons |
Baboons | troop | a troop of baboons |
Badgers | cete | a cete of badgers |
Badgers | colony | a colony of badgers |
Barracudas | school | a school of barracudas |
Bats | cloud | a cloud of bats |
Bats | colony | a colony of bats |
Bats | flock | a flock of bats |
Bears | sleuth | a sleuth of bears |
Bears | sloth | a sloth of bears |
Beavers | family | a family of beavers |
Beavers | colony | a colony of beavers |
Bees | bike | a bike of bees |
Bees | cast | a cast of bees |
Bees | cluster | a cluster of bees |
Bees | colony | a colony of bees |
Bees | drift | a drift of bees |
Bees | erst | an erst of bees |
Bees | grist | a grist of bees |
Bees | hive | a hive of bees |
Bees | nest | a nest of bees |
Bees | rabble | a rabble of bees |
Bees | stand | a stand of bees |
Bees | swarm | a swarm of bees |
Birds (generic) | flock | a flock of birds (generic) |
Bison | herd | a herd of bison |
Boar | herd | a herd of boar |
Boar | sounder | a sounder of boar |
Buffalo | herd | a herd of buffalo |
Buffalo | troop | a troop of buffalo |
Buffalo | gang | a gang of buffalo |
Buffalo | obstinancy | an obstinancy of buffalo |
Butterflies | flight | a flight of butterflies |
Butterflies | flutter | a flutter of butterflies |
Butterflies | rabble | a rabble of butterflies |
C | ||
Camels | caravan | a caravan of camels |
Camels | flock | a flock of camels |
Camels | herd | a herd of camels |
Camels | train | a train of camels |
Caribou | herd | a herd of caribou |
Cassowary | dash | a dash of cassowary |
Cats | clowder | a clowder of cats |
Cats | cluster | a cluster of cats |
Cats | clutter | a clutter of cats |
Cats | glaring | a glaring of cats |
Cats | pounce | a pounce of cats |
Kittens | kindle | a kindle of kittens |
Kittens | litter | a litter of kittens |
Caterpillar | army | an army of caterpillar |
Cattle | herd | a herd of cattle |
Cattle | drove | a drove of cattle |
Cattle | yoke | a yoke of cattle |
Cattle | team | a team of cattle |
Chamois | herd | a herd of chamois |
Cheetahs | coalition | a coalition of cheetahs |
Chickens | flock | a flock of chickens |
Chickens | brood | a brood of chickens |
Chickens | peep | a peep of chickens |
Chickens | clutch | a clutch of chickens |
Chinchillas | colony | a colony of chinchillas |
Choughs | chattering | a chattering of choughs |
Choughs | clattering | a clattering of choughs |
Clams | bed | a bed of clams |
Coatis | troop | a troop of coatis |
Cobras | quiver | a quiver of cobras |
Cockroaches | intrusion | an intrusion of cockroaches |
Cod | school | a school of cod |
Cormorants | gulp | a gulp of cormorants |
Cormorants | flight | a flight of cormorants |
Coyotes | pack | a pack of coyotes |
Crabs | cast | a cast of crabs |
Cranes | herd | a herd of cranes |
Cranes | sedge | a sedge of cranes |
Cranes | sege | a sege of cranes |
Cranes | siege | a siege of cranes |
Crocodiles | bask | a bask of crocodiles |
Crocodiles | congregation | a congregation of crocodiles |
Crocodiles | float | a float of crocodiles |
Crocodiles | nest | a nest of crocodiles |
Crow | murder | a murder of crow |
Curlew | herd | a herd of curlew |
D | ||
Deer | bunch | a bunch of deer |
Deer | herd | a herd of deer |
Deer | mob | a mob of deer |
Deer | rangale | a rangale of deer |
Dinosaurs | herd | a herd of dinosaurs |
Dinosaurs | pack | a pack of dinosaurs |
Dogs (wild) | pack | a pack of dogs (wild) |
Dogs | kennel | a kennel of dogs |
Dogs | mute | a mute of dogs |
Dogs (young) | litter | a litter of dogs (young) |
Dogs (curs) | cowardice | a cowardice of dogs (curs) |
Dogs (boxers) | comedy | a comedy of dogs (boxers) |
Dogs (hounds) | cry | a cry of dogs (hounds) |
Dogfish | troop | a troop of dogfish |
Dolphins | school | a school of dolphins |
Dolphins | pod | a pod of dolphins |
Dolphins | herd | a herd of dolphins |
Dolphins | team | a team of dolphins |
Donkeys | herd | a herd of donkeys |
Donkeys | coffle | a coffle of donkeys |
Donkeys | drove | a drove of donkeys |
Donkeys | pace | a pace of donkeys |
Dotterels | trip | a trip of dotterels |
Doves | arc | an arc of doves |
Doves | cote | a cote of doves |
Doves | dole | a dole of doves |
Doves | dule | a dule of doves |
Doves | flight | a flight of doves |
Doves | piteousness | a piteousness of doves |
Doves | pitying | a pitying of doves |
Dragonflies | cluster | a cluster of dragonflies |
Dragonflies | flight | a flight of dragonflies |
Ducks (or Mallards) | flock | a flock of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | herd | a herd of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | badling | a badling of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | brace | a brace of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | safe | a safe of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | sord | a sord of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | sore | a sore of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | waddling | a waddling of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | bunch | a bunch of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | paddling | a paddling of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | raft | a raft of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | skein | a skein of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | string | a string of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | team | a team of ducks (or mallards) |
Ducks (or Mallards) | herd | a herd of ducks (or mallards) |
Dugongs | fling | a fling of dugongs |
E | ||
Eagles | convocation | a convocation of eagles |
Echidnas | train | a train of echidnas |
Eels | bed | a bed of eels |
Eels | swarm | a swarm of eels |
Elands | herd | a herd of elands |
Elephants | herd | a herd of elephants |
Elephants | memory | a memory of elephants |
Elephant seals | herd | a herd of elephant seals |
Elephant seals | pack | a pack of elephant seals |
Elk | gang | a gang of elk |
Elk | herd | a herd of elk |
Emus | mob | a mob of emus |
F | ||
Falcons | cast | a cast of falcons |
Ferrets | busyness | a busyness of ferrets |
Ferrets | business | a business of ferrets |
Finches | charm | a charm of finches |
Fish | school | a school of fish |
Flamingos | stand | a stand of flamingos |
Flies | business | a business of flies |
Flies | cloud | a cloud of flies |
Flies | swarm | a swarm of flies |
Foxes | leash | a leash of foxes |
Foxes | skulk | a skulk of foxes |
Frogs | army | an army of frogs |
G | ||
Gaurs | herd | a herd of gaurs |
Gazelle | herd | a herd of gazelle |
Gerbils | horde | a horde of gerbils |
Giant pandas | sleuth | a sleuth of giant pandas |
Giraffes | herd | a herd of giraffes |
Giraffes | corps | a corps of giraffes |
Giraffes | tower | a tower of giraffes |
Gnats | cloud | a cloud of gnats |
Gnats | horde | a horde of gnats |
Gnats | rabble | a rabble of gnats |
Gnats | swarm | a swarm of gnats |
Gnus | herd | a herd of gnus |
Gnus | implausibility | an implausibility of gnus |
Goats | herd | a herd of goats |
Goats | flock | a flock of goats |
Goats | tribe | a tribe of goats |
Goats | trip | a trip of goats |
Goats | trippe | a trippe of goats |
Goldfinches | charm | a charm of goldfinches |
Goosanders | dopping | a dopping of goosanders |
Geese | flock | a flock of geese |
Geese | gaggle | a gaggle of geese |
Geese | plump | a plump of geese |
Geese | skein | a skein of geese |
Geese | team | a team of geese |
Geese | wedge | a wedge of geese |
Gorillas | band | a band of gorillas |
Gorillas | troop | a troop of gorillas |
Gorillas | whoop | a whoop of gorillas |
Goshawks | flight | a flight of goshawks |
Grasshoppers | cloud | a cloud of grasshoppers |
Grasshoppers | swarm | a swarm of grasshoppers |
Grouse | covey | a covey of grouse |
Grouse | pack | a pack of grouse |
Guanacos | herd | a herd of guanacos |
Guinea fowl | rasp | a rasp of guinea fowl |
Guinea fowl | flock | a flock of guinea fowl |
Guinea pigs | herd | a herd of guinea pigs |
Gulls | colony | a colony of gulls |
Gulls | flock | a flock of gulls |
H | ||
Hamsters | horde | a horde of hamsters |
Hares | band | a band of hares |
Hares | down | a down of hares |
Hares | drove | a drove of hares |
Hares | flick | a flick of hares |
Hares | husk | a husk of hares |
Hawks | cast | a cast of hawks |
Hawks | aerie | an aerie of hawks |
Hawks | staff | a staff of hawks |
Hawks | leash | a leash of hawks |
Hawks | flight | a flight of hawks |
Hawks | flock | a flock of hawks |
Hawks | Migrating in large groups | a migrating in large groups of hawks |
Hawks | kettle | a kettle of hawks |
Hawks | boil | a boil of hawks |
Hawks | cauldron | a cauldron of hawks |
Hedgehogs | array | an array of hedgehogs |
Herons | flight | a flight of herons |
Herons | sedge | a sedge of herons |
Herons | sege | a sege of herons |
Herons | siege | a siege of herons |
Herring | army | an army of herring |
Herring | glean | a glean of herring |
Herring | shoal | a shoal of herring |
Hippopotami | bloat | a bloat of hippopotami |
Hippopotami | herd | a herd of hippopotami |
Hippopotami | thunder | a thunder of hippopotami |
Hornets | bike | a bike of hornets |
Hornets | nest | a nest of hornets |
Hornets | swarm | a swarm of hornets |
Horses | stable | a stable of horses |
Horses | stud | a stud of horses |
Horses | harras | a harras of horses |
Horses (wild horses) | herd | a herd of horses (wild horses) |
Horses (wild horses) | band | a band of horses (wild horses) |
Horses (work horses) | team | a team of horses (work horses) |
Horses (colts) | rag | a rag of horses (colts) |
Horses (ponies) | string | a string of horses (ponies) |
Horses (racehorses) | field | a field of horses (racehorses) |
Hummingbirds | charm | a charm of hummingbirds |
Hyenas | cackle | a cackle of hyenas |
I | ||
Iguanas | mess | a mess of iguanas |
J | ||
Jackals | pack | a pack of jackals |
Jaguars | prowl | a prowl of jaguars |
Jaguars | leap | a leap of jaguars |
Jays | band | a band of jays |
Jays | party | a party of jays |
Jays | scold | a scold of jays |
Jellyfish | bloom | a bloom of jellyfish |
Jellyfish | brood | a brood of jellyfish |
Jellyfish | fluther | a fluther of jellyfish |
Jellyfish | smack | a smack of jellyfish |
Jellyfish | smuth | a smuth of jellyfish |
K | ||
Kangaroos | court | a court of kangaroos |
Kangaroos | herd | a herd of kangaroos |
Kangaroos | troop | a troop of kangaroos |
Kangaroos | mob | a mob of kangaroos |
Kinkajous | troop | a troop of kinkajous |
Kinkajous | convergence | a convergence of kinkajous |
Komodo dragons | bank | a bank of komodo dragons |
Koupreys | herd | a herd of koupreys |
Kudus | herd | a herd of kudus |
L | ||
Lapwings | deceit | a deceit of lapwings |
Lapwings | desert | a desert of lapwings |
Larks | exaltation | an exaltation of larks |
Lemurs | conspiracy | a conspiracy of lemurs |
Leopards | leap | a leap of leopards |
Leopards | lepe | a lepe of leopards |
Lions | pride | a pride of lions |
Lions | sawt | a sawt of lions |
Llamas | herd | a herd of llamas |
Llamas | flock | a flock of llamas |
Lobsters | risk | a risk of lobsters |
Locusts | cloud | a cloud of locusts |
Locusts | host | a host of locusts |
Locusts | swarm | a swarm of locusts |
Lorises | colony | a colony of lorises |
Lice | colony | a colony of lice |
M | ||
Magpies | flock | a flock of magpies |
Mallards | sord | a sord of mallards |
Mallards | suit | a suit of mallards |
Mammoths | herd | a herd of mammoths |
Mammoths | pack | a pack of mammoths |
Manatees | herd | a herd of manatees |
Mandrills | horde | a horde of mandrills |
Mink | richness | a richness of mink |
Mole | company | a company of mole |
Mongooses | troop | a troop of mongooses |
Mongooses | committee | a committee of mongooses |
Mongooses | delegation | a delegation of mongooses |
Monkeys | troop | a troop of monkeys |
Moose | herd | a herd of moose |
Mice | colony | a colony of mice |
Mice | nest | a nest of mice |
Mosquitoes | swarm | a swarm of mosquitoes |
Mosquitoes | cloud | a cloud of mosquitoes |
N | ||
Narwhal | blessing | a blessing of narwhal |
Nightingales | flock | a flock of nightingales |
O | ||
Octopus | consortium | a consortium of octopi |
Okapis | herd | a herd of okapis |
Opossums | passel | a passel of opossums |
Ostriches | flock | a flock of ostriches |
Ostriches | troop | a troop of ostriches |
Otters | romp | a romp of otters |
Otters | bevy | a bevy of otters |
Otters | family | a family of otters |
Otters | raft | a raft of otters |
Owls | parliament | a parliament of owls |
Oysters | bed | a bed of oysters |
P | ||
Panthers | claw | a claw of panthers |
Parrots | flock | a flock of parrots |
Partridges | covey | a covey of partridges |
Pelicans | pod | a pod of pelicans |
Penguins (on land) | waddle | a waddle of penguins (on land) |
Penguins (in water) | raft | a raft of penguins (in water) |
Penguins | rookery | a rookery of penguins |
Penguins | colony | a colony of penguins |
Penguins | huddle | a huddle of penguins |
Pheasants | flock | a flock of pheasants |
Pheasants | bouquet | a bouquet of pheasants |
Pheasants | nest | a nest of pheasants |
Pheasants | nide | a nide of pheasants |
Pheasants | nye | a nye of pheasants |
Pigs | drift | a drift of pigs |
Pigs | drove | a drove of pigs |
Piglets | litter | a litter of piglets |
Pigeons | flock | a flock of pigeons |
Pigeons | flight | a flight of pigeons |
Pigeons | kit | a kit of pigeons |
Polar bears | aurora | an aurora of polar bears |
Polar bears | celebration | a celebration of polar bears |
Polar bears | pack | a pack of polar bears |
Porcupines | prickle | a prickle of porcupines |
Porpoises | pod | a pod of porpoises |
Porpoises | school | a school of porpoises |
Porpoises | shoal | a shoal of porpoises |
Prairie dogs | town | a town of prairie dogs |
Q | ||
Quails | bevy | a bevy of quails |
Quelea | flock | a flock of quelea |
Quetzals | flock | a flock of quetzals |
R | ||
Rabbits | nest | a nest of rabbits |
Rabbits (young) | litter | a litter of rabbits (young) |
Rabbits (young) | wrack | a wrack of rabbits (young) |
Raccoons | gaze | a gaze of raccoons |
Raccoons | nursery | a nursery of raccoons |
Raccoons | committee | a committee of raccoons |
Raccoons | smack | a smack of raccoons |
Raccoons | brace | a brace of raccoons |
Raccoons | troop | a troop of raccoons |
Rams | flock | a flock of rams |
Rats | colony | a colony of rats |
Rats | horde | a horde of rats |
Rats | mischief | a mischief of rats |
Rattlesnakes | rhumba | a rhumba of rattlesnakes |
Ravens | unkindness | an unkindness of ravens |
Red deer | herd | a herd of red deer |
Red pandas | pack | a pack of red pandas |
Reindeer (caribou) | herd | a herd of reindeer (caribou) |
Rhinoceroses | herd | a herd of rhinoceroses |
Rhinoceroses | crash | a crash of rhinoceroses |
Rooks | building | a building of rooks |
Rooks | parliament | a parliament of rooks |
Rumours | nest | a nest of rumours |
S | ||
Salamanders | band | a band of salamanders |
Salmon | bind | a bind of salmon |
Salmon | leap | a leap of salmon |
Salmon | run | a run of salmon |
Salmon | draught | a draught of salmon |
Sandpipers | fling | a fling of sandpipers |
Sardines | family | a family of sardines |
Sea lions | pod | a pod of sea lions |
Seahorses | shoal | a shoal of seahorses |
Seals | herd | a herd of seals |
Seals | pod | a pod of seals |
Seals | rookery | a rookery of seals |
Sharks | shiver | a shiver of sharks |
Sheep | flock | a flock of sheep |
Sheep | fold | a fold of sheep |
Sheep | herd | a herd of sheep |
Shrews | colony | a colony of shrews |
Shrews | drove | a drove of shrews |
Skunks | surfeit | a surfeit of skunks |
Sloths | bed | a bed of sloths |
Snails | escargatoire | an escargatoire of snails |
Snails | rout | a rout of snails |
Snails | walk | a walk of snails |
Snakes | nest | a nest of snakes |
Snakes | ball | a ball of snakes |
Spiders | cluster | a cluster of spiders |
Spiders | clutter | a clutter of spiders |
Squirrels | scurry | a scurry of squirrels |
Squirrels | dray | a dray of squirrels |
Starlings | chattering | a chattering of starlings |
Starlings | murmuration | a murmuration of starlings |
Swans | flock lamentation | a flock lamentation of swans |
T | ||
Tapir | herd | a herd of tapir |
Tarsiers | herd | a herd of tarsiers |
Termites | colony | a colony of termites |
Termites | nest | a nest of termites |
Termites | swarm | a swarm of termites |
Tigers | ambush | an ambush of tigers |
Tigers | streak | a streak of tigers |
Toads | knot | a knot of toads |
Turkeys | rafter | a rafter of turkeys |
Turtles | bale | a bale of turtles |
V | ||
Vicuñas | posse | a posse of vicuñas |
Vicuñas | herd | a herd of vicuñas |
W | ||
Wallabies | mob | a mob of wallabies |
Walruses | huddle | a huddle of walruses |
Walruses | herd | a herd of walruses |
Walruses | flock | a flock of walruses |
Wasps | swarm | a swarm of wasps |
Wasps | hive | a hive of wasps |
Wasps | colony | a colony of wasps |
Wasps | nest | a nest of wasps |
Water buffalo | herd | a herd of water buffalo |
Weasels | gang | a gang of weasels |
Weasels | sneak | a sneak of weasels |
Whales | pod | a pod of whales |
Whales | school | a school of whales |
Wolves | pack | a pack of wolves |
Wolverines | pack | a pack of wolverines |
Wombats | peregrine | a peregrine of wombats |
Wrens | herd | a herd of wrens |
Y | ||
Yaks | herd | a herd of yaks |
Z | ||
Zebras | herd | a herd of zebras |
Zebras | cohort | a cohort of zebras |
Zebras | dazzle | a dazzle of zebras |
Zebras | zeal | a zeal of zebras |
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FAQs
What is the weirdest collective noun? ›
A Bike of Bees
Collective Noun for Bees is a Bike of Bees. It's amusing to imagine a swarm of bees flying in bicycle formation, but the real reason this is a collective noun for bees is because the word “bike” is an old English word which means a colony, nest, or swarm.
- Collective noun for bees – Swarm.
- Collective noun for fish – Shoal or School.
- Collective noun for sheep – Herd.
- Collective noun for ships – Fleet.
- Collective noun for birds – Flock.
- Collective noun for lions – Pride.
- Collective noun for wolves – Pack.
- Collective noun for ants – Colony.
Collective nouns are nouns that describe a group, for example: class, family, herd, couple. These can also be called group nouns. There are about 200 collective nouns in English.
What are the 10 sentences of collective noun? ›- Our class took a field trip to the natural history museum.
- The herd of bison ran across the prairie, leaving a massive dust cloud in its wake.
- We waited anxiously for the jury to come to a verdict.
- This year's basketball team includes three players who are over six feet tall.
A collective noun is a word or phrase that refers to a group of people or things as one entity.
What is the collective noun of girls? ›The collective noun for girls is giggle. Bevy is the other collective nouns for girls.
Why does English have collective nouns? ›The tradition of using "terms of venery" or "nouns of assembly," collective nouns that are specific to certain kinds of animals, stems from an English hunting tradition of the Late Middle Ages. The fashion of a consciously developed hunting language came to England from France.
What are 20 examples of abstract nouns? ›| Feelings | States | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Fear | Freedom | Career |
| Pain | Liberty | Childhood |
| Pleasure | Luxury | Death |
| Satisfaction | Misery | Future |
conflagration Add to list Share. A conflagration isn't just a few flames; it's an especially large and destructive fire that causes devastation.
What is the collective noun of bananas? ›Option B) Bunch – is the correct answer because 'bunch' is a collective noun and the name bunch is given to a number of things that are usually of the same type and growing together. Therefore, bananas grow together and have the same type.
What is the collective noun of salt? ›
| Nouns | Collective, Propriety |
|---|---|
| Salt | Lot |
| Satellites | Constellation |
| Second thoughts | Clutch |
| Shells | Midden |
The collective noun for eggs is “clutch”, usually referring to one group of eggs laid by one bird.
What is the collective noun of money? ›| collective noun | usage |
|---|---|
| wad | A wad of money |
| rouleau | A rouleau of money |
| cache | A cache of money |
• Monkeys: a barrel or a troop.
What is a group of octopus called? › Is prettiest an abstract noun? ›It is a general type of abstract noun because you can not touch or hold beauty. It just can be felt and seen by you, so it is an abstract noun.
Is love an abstract noun? ›Remember, abstract nouns identify something immaterial and abstract, which means we cannot see, taste, hear, touch, or smell it. For example, the word love is an abstract noun.
What is the abstract noun of laugh? ›The abstract noun for a laugh is laughter and laughing.
What is the abstract noun for angry? ›Option c- 'Anger' is the abstract noun of 'angry' as it denotes a feeling. Hence, it is the correct option.
What is a concrete word? ›
Concrete words refer to tangible, qualities or characteristics, things we know through our senses. Words and phrases like "102 degrees," "obese Siamese cat," and "deep spruce green" are concrete. ABSTRACT: To excel in college, you'll have to work hard.
What are abstract nouns Class 5? ›Abstract nouns are naming words that you cannot see, smell, touch or perceive by any of your five senses.
Is Apple a collective noun? ›...
Appendix:Glossary of collective nouns by subject.
| Subject | Collective term |
|---|---|
| apples | A bushel of apples |
| archer fish | A company of archer fish |
| arrows | A quiver of arrows |
| artillery | A troop, battery of artillery |
| Noun | Collective Noun | Collective Noun |
|---|---|---|
| coconuts | cluster | catalogue |
| coins | collection | bundle |
| corn | sheaf/stack/ harvest | fall/shower |
| cotton | bale | pencil |
It is both, depending on how it is being used. In terms of meaning this spinning planet we call Earth, it is a common noun. “The world has all the ingredients necessary for human life.” However, when it is used to denote society and the people who comprise and drive it, it is a collective noun.
What is a group of octopus called? › What is a group of koalas called? ›They are fairly solitary creatures, although they do like to be living in overlapping home ranges in bushland with other Koalas. We usually call these groups 'Koala populations' or 'Koala colonies'.
What is a group of foxes called? ›A group of foxes is called a skulk. The word skulk comes from a Scandinavian word, and generally means to wait, lurk or move stealthily.
What is a group of rats called? ›A group of rats is called a 'mischief'!
What is a group of jellyfish called? ›A group of jellyfish is called a SMACK! Here are more collective nouns for ocean animals you might not know...
What is a group of frogs called? ›
What is a group of crabs called? ›Did you know a group of crabs is called a consortium? Here are 6 more collective nouns for ocean animals. you might now know...
What is a group of giraffes? ›Take giraffe for example: “a tower” is their collective noun, and we can't think of a better way to describe a group of these gangly giants, towering as they do above all but the tallest trees around them. A group of giraffe are called a 'tower', which is a great example of collective nouns at their descriptive best.
What is a group of sloth called? ›As you can see, a “snuggle” of sloths was the resounding winner, which now makes this the most popular term for a group of sloths!
What is a group of elephants called? ›A group of elephants is called a 'herd' – a herd of elephants.
What is a group of sharks called? › What do we call a group of penguins? ›A group of penguins in the water is called a raft but on land they're called a waddle! Other names for a group of penguins include rookery, colony, and huddle.
What is a pack of snakes called? ›A group of snakes is generally called a bed, den, pit or nest, but a group of rattlesnakes is referred to as a rhumba or rumba.
What is a group of mouse called? ›- A group of mice is commonly referred to as a horde or mischief of mice.
What is a group of hedgehogs called? ›What is white rat called? ›
noun. an albino variety of the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus, used in biological experiments.