When you go on holidays with kids, you’ll often get a question like “What’s a group of cows called?” Sometimes you also find the kids know the collective nouns for animals way better than the adults do.
They say that the collective names for groups of animals date back to medieval times. This might explain why some collective nouns for some animals seem a bit strange, surprising or just plain funny. For example, it’s a business of ferrets and group of ravens is called an unkindness.
Whether it is a group of mammals, birds or insects, there is a unique collective noun to identify the specific group of animals. Not only is it fun to say certain names for groups of animals, but it is interesting as well. The collective names given to groups of animals can be as unique as the animals themselves and highlight certain traits of that group. For example, a group of skunks is called a stench.
Read more: Call of the wild. Animal encounters around Australia for kids
10 collective nouns for animals you might like
- Crocodiles = a bask
- Cockatoos = a crackle
- Finches = a charm
- Giraffes = a tower
- Jellyfish = a smack
- King parrots = a company
- Penguins = a waddle (on land) or a raft (in the water)
- Toads = a knot
- Whales = a pod, school, or gam
- Wombats = a wisdom
And for the Aussies reading this, did you know that there’s no official collective noun for a group of koalas? Apparently that’s because you rarely see them travelling in groups, and their eucalyptus diet leaves them too tired to form meaningful relationships. What do you think?
Now it’s time to test your knowledge. How well do you know your collective nouns for these animals?
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Janeece Keller is the founder and editor of Family Travel. She mostly travels with her husband and two young kids. She has a large blended family that lives in Australia and Europe. She has visited 52 countries and lived on 3 continents. From camping to luxury resorts Janeece tries to make sure her family has diverse holiday experiences each year. She is an avid hiker and ocean swimmer who loves good food, margaritas and heading off the beaten path.