Collective Nouns for Fish
When we think of fish, we often picture them swimming in unison, shimmering beneath the water’s surface. Whether it’s a school of fish or a shiver of sharks, these collective terms bring richness to the way we describe the underwater world. In this blog, we’ll explore the most common and some lesser-known collective nouns for fish, their meanings, and examples of how to use them.
What Are Collective Nouns?
A collective noun is a word used to describe a group of people, animals, or things as one unit. In the context of fish, these nouns help us vividly describe groups in action — whether they’re swimming freely, migrating, or caught in nets.
Common Collective Nouns for Fish
Collective Noun | Meaning | Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
A school of fish | A large, organized group of fish swimming together. | A school of fish shimmered in the sunlight. |
A shoal of fish | A loose group of fish (less organized than a school). | A shoal of fish darted away from the predator. |
A catch of fish | Fish caught by fishermen. | The fishermen brought in a huge catch of fish. |
A haul of fish | Similar to “catch,” referring to a large amount. | The net held a massive haul of fish. |
A run of fish | Fish migrating together (e.g., salmon). | We watched the run of fish upstream. |
A run of salmon | A group of migrating salmon. | The river was full during the run of salmon. |
A flotilla of swordfish | A group of swordfish swimming together. | A flotilla of swordfish raced through the waves. |
A shiver of sharks | A group of sharks (though sharks are not true fish). | A shiver of sharks circled the boat. |
A troop of dogfish | A group of dogfish (a small shark species). | A troop of dogfish patrolled the reef. |
A company of angelfish | A group of angelfish. | A company of angelfish glided past the coral. |
A hover of trout | A group of trout suspended in water. | A hover of trout waited in the deep pool. |
A kettle of fish | A confused or mixed group (also a phrase for a problem). | The net was a kettle of fish thrashing wildly. |
A draft of fish | Fish caught in a net (archaic term). | The fishermen pulled up a heavy draft of fish. |
A bed of eels | A group of eels resting together. | A bed of eels slithered in the mud. |
A fray of fish | A chaotic group of fish (rare/poetic). | The predator sent a fray of fish scattering. |
A glide of fish | Fish moving smoothly together. | A glide of fish moved like a single organism. |
A scale of fish | A poetic term for a group of fish. | The sunlight reflected off a scale of fish. |
A nest of fish | Fish gathered in a sheltered area. | A nest of fish hid among the seaweed. |
A family of fish | A small, closely associated group. | A family of fish darted between the rocks. |
A drought of fish | An old term for a sparse group (rare). | The river held only a drought of fish this year. |
An army of herring | A massive group of herring. | An army of herring darkened the water. |
A shoal of bass | A group of bass fish. | A shoal of bass lurked near the dock. |
A shoal of mackerel | A group of mackerel. | A shoal of mackerel flashed silver in the waves. |
A shoal of sardines | A tightly packed group of sardines. | Dolphins chased a shoal of sardines. |
A swarm of fish | A dense, moving mass of fish. | A swarm of fish erupted from the reef. |
A pod of dolphins | Dolphins are mammals, but often grouped with fish terms. | A pod of dolphins played near the ship. |
A school of tuna | A large group of tuna. | A school of tuna sped through the open ocean. |
A company of fish | A general term for a group of fish. | A company of fish explored the sunken wreck. |
A gam of whales | Whales are mammals, but sometimes included. | A gam of whales breached in the distance. |
A tribe of goatfish | A group of goatfish. | A tribe of goatfish foraged along the seabed. |
A rush of salmon | Another term for migrating salmon. | The rush of salmon signaled spawning season. |
A fleet of sailfish | A group of sailfish. | A fleet of sailfish raced through the current. |
A party of rainbow fish | A colorful group of rainbow fish. | A party of rainbow fish brightened the tank. |
A congregation of eels | Eels gathered in one place. | A congregation of eels writhed in the depths. |
A stream of minnows | A flowing group of tiny fish. | A stream of minnows flickered in the shallows. |
Collective Nouns for Specific Types of Fish
Fish Type | Collective Noun | Example |
---|---|---|
Sharks | A shiver of sharks | A shiver of sharks circled the reef. |
Eels | A bed of eels | The diver spotted a bed of eels under the rocks. |
Herring | An army of herring | An army of herring moved like a wave through the sea. |
Salmon | A run of salmon | The run of salmon began earlier this year. |
Tuna | A school of tuna | A school of tuna passed swiftly beneath the boat. |
Sardines | A shoal of sardines | A shoal of sardines shimmered near the surface. |
From the synchronized grace of a school of fish to the thrill of spotting a shiver of sharks, collective nouns bring life to underwater language. Next time you’re watching a documentary or visiting an aquarium, try to spot these groupings and now, you’ll know what to call them!
Want to Learn More?
Synonyms and Antonyms Exercise | C2 Vocabulary Exercise | B1 Vocabulary Exercises |
B2 Vocabulary Exercise | A2 Vocabulary Exercise | A1 Vocabulary Exercise |
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