Collective nouns for animals

Below is a list of the collective nouns for animals. If you would like to add to or amend this list,
please leave a comment below.
These collective nouns can have a long history, and have been developed since medieval times.
For example, the Book of St. Albans, dating back to 1486, was a guide to hawking and
hunting, and listed many of the collective nouns for animals we still use today.

Collective nouns for mammals & marsupials

Animal

Collective Nouns

Antelope

Herd

Apes

Shrewdness

Asses

Pace, Herd, Drove

Baboons

Troop, Flange

Badgers

Cete

Bats

Colony, Cloud

Bears

Sloth, Sleuth, Litter (young)

Beavers

Colony, Family

Bison

Herd

Buffalo

Gang, Obstinacy

Camels

Caravan, Flock, Train

Caribou

Herd

Cats

Clowder, Pounce; (Kittens: Kindle, Litter,

Intrigue), Destruction (wild cats)

Cattle

Drove, Herd

Cheetah

Coalition

Chinchilla

Colony

Cows

Herd, Kine

Coyotes

Band

Deer

Herd, Bevy (only for roe deer)

Dogs

Litter (puppies), Pack (if wild), Cowardice

(curs), Leash(Greyhounds). For hounds: Cry, Mute, Pack,
Kennel

Dolphins

Pod

Donkeys

Drove, Herd, Pace

Elephants

Herd, Memory

Elk

Gang

Ferrets

Business, Cast, Fesnying

Fox

Leash, Skulk, Earth, Lead, Troop

Giraffes

Tower

Goats

Tribe, Trip

Gorillas

Band, Troop

Hedgehogs

Array

Hippopotamuses Bloat
Horses

Team, Harras, Rag (colts), Stud (a group of horses owned

by one person), String (for ponies)

Hyenas

Cackle, Clan

Impalas

Herd

Kangaroos

Mob, Troop

Leopards

Leap

Lions

Pride, Sault, Troop

Martens

Richness

Mice

Mischief

Moles

Labor

Monkeys

Troop, Barrel

Moose

Herd

Mules

Pack, Span, Barren, rake

Otters

Bevy, Family, Raft, Romp

Oxen

Team, Yoke

Pigs

Drift, Drove, Litter (piglets), Sounder (swine only), Team,

Passel (hogs only), Singular (for boars)

Polecats

Chine

Porcupines

Prickle

Porpoises

Crowd, Herd, Pod, School, Shoal

Rabbits

Colony, Warren, Nest, Herd (domesticated only), Litter

(young rabbits), Down (hares), husk (hares)

Raccoons

Gaze

Rats

Colony, Pack, Plague, Swarm

Reindeer

Herd

Rhinoceroses

Crash

Roebucks

Bevy

Seals

Bob, Harem, Herd, Pod, Rookery

Sheep

Drove, Flock, Herd

Springbok

Herd

Squirrels

Dray, Scurry

Stoats

Pack, Trip

Tigers

Ambush, Streak

Walruses

Herd, Pod

Weasles

Gang, Colony, Pack

Whales

Pod, Gam, Herd, School

Wolves

Pack, Rout, Route (when moving)

Wombats

Wisdom

Zebras

Zeal, Crossing, Dazzle, Cohorts, Herd

Collective nouns for birds

Animal
Birds in general

Collective Nouns
Brace (for a couple of birds that have been killed when hunted), Flight
(when flying), Flock (when on the ground), Volary

Albatross

Rookery

Bitterns

Sedge

Bullfinches

Bellowing

Buzzards

Wake

Bobolinks

Chain

Capons

Mews

Chickens

Brood, Peep, Young chickens: Chattering, Clutch

Chicks (Various
birds)

Brood; Clutch

Coots

Cover

Cormorants

Gulp

Cranes

Sedge, Seige

Crows

Horde, Murder

Dotterel

Trip

Doves

Dule, Pitying (Turtle doves only)

Ducks

Balding, Brace (a couple of hunted and killed ducks), Flock (flying),

Paddling (on water), Raft (on water), Team

Dunlins

Fling

Eagles

Convocation

Emus

Mob

Finches

Charm

Falcons

Cast

Flamingos

Stand

Geese

Flock, Gaggle (grounded), Skein (flying)

Goshawks

Flight

Grouse

Pack (later in the hunting season)

Guillemots

Bazaar

Guinea Fowl

Confusion

Gulls

Colony

Hawks

Boil (when spiraling in flight), Cast, Kettle (large amount of flying hawks)

Herons

Sedge, Siege

Hummingbirds

Charm

Jays

Party, Scold

Lapwings

Deceit

Larks

Exaltation

Mallards

Sord (flying), Brace (two that havce been hunted and killed)

Magpies

Charm, Gulp, Murder, Tiding

Nightingales

Watch

Owls

Parliament

Parrots

Company, Pandemonium

Partridge

Covey

Peacocks

Muster, Ostentation

Pelicans

Pod

Penguins

Colony

Pheasant

Bouquet, Brace (couple hunted and killed), Nest, Nide, Nye,

Pigeons

Flight, Flock, Kit

Plovers

Congregation, Wing (flying)

Ptarmigans

Covey

Rooks

Building, Clamor, Parliament

Ruffs

Hill

Quail

Bevy, Covey

Ravens

Storytelling, Unkindness

Seabirds

Wreck

Sheldrakes

Doading

Skylarks

Exultation

Snipe

Walk, Wisp

Sparrows

Host

Starlings

Murmuration

Storks

Mustering

Swallows

Flight

Swans

Bevy, Wedge (flying)

Swifts

Flock

Teal

Spring

Thrush

Mutation

Turkeys

Gang, Rafter

Turtle Doves

Pitying, Dule

Vultures

Kettle (flying), Venue

Waterfowls

Knob, Plump

Widgeons

Company

Wildfowl

Plump

Woodcocks

Fall

Woodpeckers

Descent

Wrens

Herd

Collective nouns for fish

Animal
Fish
(general)

Collective Nouns
Draft, Nest, School, Shoal (some academics argue that School is incorrect, and
that Shoal should be used instead). When caught: Catch, Drought, Haul

Barracudas Battery
Bass

Shoal

Cod

Lap

Eels

Bed, Fry, Swarm

Goldfish

Glint, Troubling

Herring

Army

Sardines

Family

Sharks

Shiver

Stingrays

Fever

Trout

Hover

Collective nouns for reptiles and amphibians

Animal

Collective Nouns

Alligators

Congregation

Cobras

Quiver

Crocodiles

Bask, Float

Frogs

Army, Colony

Lizards

Lounge

Rattlesnakes

Rhumba

Salamanders

Congress

Toads

Knab, Knot, Nest

Turtles

Bale, Dole, Nest, Turn

Snakes, vipers

Den, Generation, Knot, Nest, Pit

Collective nouns for invertebrates (including insects,

molluscs etc.)
Animal
Ants

Collective Nouns
Army, Colony, Nest, Swarm (flying)

Bees

Grist, Hive, Swarm

Caterpillars

Army

Clams

Bed

Cockroaches

Intrusion

Crabs

Cast

Flies

Business, Cloud, Swarm

Gnats

Cloud, Horde, Swarm

Grasshoppers

Cloud

Hornets

Bike, Nest

Insects (general)

Horde, Nest, Plague, Rabble, Swarm

Jellyfish

Brood, Smack

Lice

Flock

Locusts

Plague

Midges

Bite

Mosquitoes

Scourge

Oysters

Bed

Scorpions

Bed, Nest

Spiders

Cluster, Clutter

Termites

Brood, Colony, Nest, Swarm

Wasps

Nest, Swarm

Worms

Bed, Bunch, Clat, Clew

Collective nouns for single-celled organisms

Organism

Collective Nouns

Bacteria

Culture

Collective nouns for objects & things

Below is a list of commonly used collective nouns for objects, fruits, plants and other
miscellaneous things.
Some of these collective nouns are very old, dating back to medieval times, while others are
fairly new. If you know of any other collective nouns that should be added to this list, use the
comments box and the bottom of this page.
Item
Aircraft

Collective Nouns
Flight, Wing

Angels

Choir, Chorus,Flight, Host, Pinhead

Apples

Bushel

Arrows

Quiver

Artillery

Battery

Asteroids

Belt

Bananas

Bunch, Comb

Beans

Hill

Bells

Peal, Change, Carillons

Bills/Notes

Wad

Books

Library

Bread

Batch

Canyons

Maze

Cars

Fleet, Mayhem, Stack

Cards

Deck, Hand, Pack

Chairs

Fold

Cigarettes

Packet

Circuits

Bank

Clothes

Suit

Clouds

Souffl

Coins

Roll, Roleau

Computers

Cluster, Network (when linked)

Condiments

Accompaniment

Corn

Sheaf, Shock (pile of stalks)

Cymbals

Sign

Diamond

Cluster

Dice

Luck

Dictionaries

Meaning

Documents

Dossier, Wealth

Dominoes

Falling

Drinks

Round

Drugs

Cocktail

Drums

Kettle

Dung

Pile

Eggs

Clutch

Errands

Hassle

Estimations

Bout

Firewood

Faggot

Flowers

Bunch, Bouquet

Footsteps

Patter

Furniture

Suite

Gears

Rack

Ghosts

Fright

Gloves

Elicat

Gods

Pantheon

Grass

Tuft

Grapes

Bunch

Grits

Mess

Gunships

Hailstorm

Hair

Lock, Tuz, Wig

Hammers

Morning

Harps

Twangle

Helicopters

Hover

Hills

Undulation

Icebergs

Crush, Drift

Impediments

Vagary

Information

Wealth

Islands

Archipelago, Chain, Group

Jewels

Cache

Keys

Ring

Knots

Cluster, Medusa

Lamentations

Moan

Lavatories

Flush

Laws (bad)

Strangle

Leaves

Autumn

Lines

Pencil

Locks (on a canal)

Flight

Lorries

Convoy, Fleet

Machine guns

Nest

Maps

Atlas

Money

Cache, Roll, Rouleau, Wad

Monitors

Bank

Mountains

Range

Nouns

Collective, Propriety

Objects

Collection

Orchids

Coterie

Ovoids

Metamorphosis

Palindromes

Tenet

Paper

Pad, Ream

Particulars

Bill

Pearls

Rope, String

Peas

Pods

Pistols

Brace (two pistols)

Planes

Stack

Pleasure

Glut, Guilt

Poems

Anthology

Pottage

Mess

Puddles

Splash

Puns

Groan

Reasons

Rainbow

Rebuttals

Quiver

Reeds

Clump

Ribs

Rack

Riches

Embarrassment

Rubbish

Heap, Pile

Salt

Lot

Satellites

Constellation

Second thoughts

Clutch

Shells

Midden

Ships

Armada, Fleet, Flotilla

Shoelaces

Knot

Shoes

Pair, Scandal

Silk Screens

Pull

Similes

Superfluity

Smelt

Quantity

Software

Crash

Spatulas

Beautification

Sphincters

Clench

Stairs

Flight

Stamps

Collection

Stars

Cluster, Constellation, Galaxy, Wonder

Steps

Flight

Sticks

Fagot

Sub-atomic particles

Minuscule

Submarines

Pack, Wolfpack

Suitcases

Pack

Tanks

Clank, Clatter

Tarts

Jam

Tasks

Agenda

Teddy bears

Hug

Tests

Battery

Things

Bunch, Cluster

Tomorrows

Promise

Tongues

Convention, Jagger

Toys

Assembly

Tranquilizers

Equanimity

Trash

Heap, Pile

Trees

Clump, Coupe, Forest, Grove, Stand, Stillness, Thicket, Wood

Tools

Kit, Set

Trucks

Convoy

Trumpets

Flourish

Truths

Pity

Tubas

Tumult

Turds

Steam

Twitches

Embarrassment

Umbrellas

Phalanx

Wagers

Book

Weed

Stash

Wheat

Sheaf

Willows

Bed

Windmills

Tilt

Winnings

Purse

Collective nouns for people

This page lists the collective nouns used for groups of people. Some of these terms are very old,
while others are newer and have become accepted after growing in use.
Many of the collective nouns for people are based around occupations and professions, while
others are based of family, gender, nationality and other areas.
If any collective nouns are missing or need editing, please leave a comment using the form at the
bottom of the page.
Group
Academics

Collective Nouns
Faculty

Acrobats

Troupe

Actors

Cast, Company, Condescension, Cry, Queue

Actresses

Entrance

Aldermen

Bench

Arsonists

Conflagration

Artistes

Troupe

Athletes

Team

Bakers

Tabernacle

Barbers

Babble

Barmen

Promise

Barons

Thought

Barristers

Boast, Wiggery

Bastards

Shower

Beaters

Squad

Beauties

Beavy, Galaxy

Beggars

Fighting

Bishops

Bench, Psalter, Sea

Boys

Plush, Rascal

Boy Scouts

Troop

Brewers

Feast

Brownies

Pack

Bureaucrats

Shuffle

Butchers

Goring

Butlers

Sneer

Candidates

Slate

Canons

Chapter, Dignity

Capitalists

Company, Syndicate

Cardinals

College

Carpenters

Pound

Catholics

Mass

Censors

Gaggle

Cheerleaders

Array

Chess Players

Board, Brood

Churchgoers

Congregation

Clerks

Rookery, School

Clowns

Alley, Pratfall

Cobblers

Cutting, Drunkship

Comedians

Gaggle, Riot

Communists

Colhose

Cooks

Hastiness

Cowboys

Cavvy, Saunter

Critics

Shrivel

Curs

Cowardice

Dancers

Troupe, Flight (male), Float (female)

Deans

Decanter, Decorum

Decorators

Tantrum

Dentists

Amalgam, Brace, Wwince

Dermatologists

Rash

Designers

Set, Subtlety

Directors

Board

Doctors

Doctrine

Dons

Obstruction

Drummers

Asylum, Fagot, Roll

Employees

Staff

Englishmen

Pound

Equestrians

Prance

Experts

Discord, Panel

Fishermen

Drift, Exaggeration, Grumble, Sulk

Followers

Trail

Foresters

Stalk

Frenchmen

Peck

Friends

Party

Gamblers

Talent

Generals

Glitter

Geneticists

Helix

Geologists

Conglomerate, Formation

Geometrists

Plane

Germans

Gross

Girl Guides

Company

Girls

Giggle

Golfers

Lie, Tedium

Goons

Plunder

Gossips

Gaggle

Gossip columnists

Slither

Governesses

Galaxy

Graduate students

Fortitude

Grammarians

Conjunction

Grandparents

Nag, Wisdom

Groupies

Grope

Gym instructors

Set

Gymnasts

Troupe

Gynaecologists

Smear

Gypsies

Store

Hackers

Cruft

Hairdressers

Set, Swish

Harlots

Herd

Harpists

Melody

Hedonists

Debauchery

Heirs

Expectation

Hermits

Observance

Hippies

Trip

Hobos

Flagon

Homosexuals

Ensemble

Hoodlums

Gang

Horsemen

Cavalcade

Hunters

Blast

Husbands

Multiply, Unhappiness

Impressionists

Blur

In-laws

Imposition

Interpreters

Tounge

Irishmen

Pint

Italians

Explosion

Joggers

Wheeze

Journalists

Scoop, Slant

Judges

Bench, Sentence

Jugglers

Neverthriving

Jurors

Damning

Knights

Banner, Rout

Ladies

Bevy

Lawyers

Disputation, Eloquence, Escheat, Greed, Huddle, Quarrel

Lecturers

Drift

Lepers

Colony

Lesbians

Tough

Liberals

Pink

Librarians

Catalogue, Stack, Shush

Listeners

Audience

Magicians

Illusion

Magistrates

Bench

Mathematicians

Number, Set

Matrons

Riches

Majors

Morbidity

Meatheads

Density

Mechanics

Clutch, Torque

Men

Band

Merchants

Faith

Messengers

Diligence

Metallurgists

Amalgamation

Meteorologists

Shower

Microbiologists

Colony

Midwives

Expectation

Minstrels

Troupe

Models

Slouch

Monks

Abominable Sight

Mothers

Cconsternation

Mothers-in-law

Mutter

Mourners

Cortege

Musicians

Band, Orchestra

Narcissists

Mug, Reflection

Natives

Tribe

Nazis

Jungle

Nieces

Squeal

Northerners

Freeze

Nuns

Convent, Murmur, Flap, Pray, Superfluity

Nymphomaniacs

Spread

Officers

Mess, Execution

Onlookers

Crowd

Orthodontists

Brace

Orthopaedists

Brace, Cast

Osteopaths

Joint

Painters

Curse, Illusion, Misbelieving

Paparazzi

Flash

Parents

Embarrassment, Persistence

Pathologists

Body

Patients

Virtue

Pedlars

Malapertness

People

Audience, Crowd, Mob

Percussionist

Meter

Performers

Troupe/Troup

Philosophers

Confiusion, Ponder

Photographers

Clique, Snap

Physicians

College

Physicists

Nucleus

Pianists

Pound

Pilots

Crew, Yoke

Pipers

Skirl

Plumbers

Flood, Flush

Poets

Iamb, Obsucurity, Rhyme

Police

Posse

Politicians

Lie, Equivocation, Odium

Preachers

Converting, Pontification

Priests

Discretion, Lechery, Mass, superfluity

Prisoners

Gang, Pity

Professors

Pomposity

Programmers

Archive, Bloat (Microsoft)

Prostitutes

Anthology, Stable, Whored

Psychoanalysts

Complex

Psychologists

Complex

Public speakers

Twaddle

Pyromaniacs

Blaze, Conflagration

Radiologists

Series

Refugees

Flight

Reviewers

Pan

Rioters

Melee

Robbers

Band

Sailors

Crew, Deck

Salesmen

Sample

Schoolboys

Rout

Scots

Clan, Disworship

Seamstresses

Scolding

Senators

House

Sergeants-at-law

Subtlety

Servants

Obeisance

Shepherds

Sodom

Sheriffs

Posse

Shoemakers

Blackening

Shoppers

Crush

Singers

Choir

Smokers

Billow, Hack

Soldiers

Army, Brigade, Company, Division, Muster, Platoon, Troop

Students

Class

Subalterns

Simplicity

Swingers

Bed

Tailors

Disguising, Proud Showing

Teachers

Quiz

Taverners

Glozing

Teenagers

Attitude, Grunt

Thieves

Den, Gang , Skulk

Tree surgeons

Graft

Trustees

Board

Tourists

Flock

Undertakers

Unction

Vegetarians

Sprig

Vicars

Prudence

Waiters

Absence, Indifference, Order

Walkers

Amble

Webmasters

Linkage, Net

Widows

Ambush

Witches

Coven

Wives

Impatience

Women

Gaggle

Workmen

Gang

Worshippers

Congregation

Wrestlers

Clutch, Crunch

Writers

Worship

Yeoman

Fellowship

Strange collective nouns

This site has lists of collective nouns, but many people are interested in discovering the strange,
odd, weird and bizarre collective nouns.
On this page we list the strangest collective nouns from across out lists. Please use the comments
box to let us know of any others:

An enterance of actresses
A flange of baboons
A culture of bacteria
A galaxy of beauties
A goring of butchers
A souffl of clouds
A murder of crows
A fagot of drummers
A peck of Frenchmen
A helix of geneticists
A grope of groupies
An unhappiness of husbands
A mischief of mice
A metamorphosis of ovoids
An ambush of tigers
A crossing of zebras
A charm of finches
A tough of lesbians
An exaltation of larks
A shower of meteorologists
An abominable sight of monks
A parliament of owls
A nucleus of physicists
A lechery of priests
A rhumba of rattlesnakes
An unkindness of ravens
A shiver of sharks
A sodom of shepherds
A hack of smokers
A beautification of spatulas

A flock of tourists
A phalanx of umbrellas
A sprig of vegatarians