We can use several collective nouns to describe a group of sheep. Sheep are friendly animals and like to live with others and move as a group. Occasionally, you travel and suddenly see so many sheep moving together. You have a question: What is the collective noun for a group of sheep? We can use some common and unique words for a group of sheep. In this topic, we will discuss 12 collective nouns for a group of sheep. Let’s have a look.
12 Collective Nouns for a Group of Sheep
1. Flock of sheep
The most common collective noun for a group of sheep is called a flock. Farmers keep a small number of sheep on their farms. Usually, a farmer’s flock can be from two sheep to 200 or more ewes and their lambs. Farmers tame sheep for milk and wool. We call a person a shepherd who takes care of or leads a group of sheep.
Examples:
- We saw a flock grazing in the grassland.
- A flock is moving towards its shed.
There are also other, less commonly used collective nouns for groups of sheep. Now, we will discuss them one by one.
2. Herd of sheep
Farmers keep sheep in fenced pastures. Sheep obtain their food inside the fence. It doesn’t require a particular person to take them outside to feed them. These are in large numbers.
Usually, we use the word herd to describe a group of grazing sheep. We can use the word ‘herd’ alone; it still refers to a group of sheep. We use a herd for a bigger group of sheep.
Examples:
- A shepherd who resides near that tree has a large herd of sheep. In the morning, he feeds the herd.
- A herd of sheep seems so fluffy.
Also, read Collective Noun for Lions with Examples.
3. Band
The larger group of sheep is called a band. A band can be 900 to 1000 ewes. It grows to around 2500 to 3000 with the birth of lambs.
Example:
- The farmer moved his band of 3000 sheep to his village; he transported it by truck.
4. Drove of sheep
Sometimes, a large number of sheep are in a group, and that immense mass of sheep acts or moves as a body. We can name such a large mass of sheep as a drove. Drove refers to how sheep are cared for.
So, drove is another collective noun for a group of sheep.
Examples:
- Some time ago, the grassland was green. A drove came to the land, and it turned white as snow.
- A shepherd called a barber to shave his sheep, and the drove was waiting for him.
5. Fold
Another word we can use for a group of sheep is ‘fold’. In English grammar, a collective noun is a word that refers to a group or collection. Most of the collective names are familiar. But some collective nouns are unique, and we use them for specific species. We can use the word fold for a group of sheep.
Examples:
- I saw a fold of white sheep sitting under a tree.
- The fold of white sheep grew this year to a hundred.
6. Mob
Sometimes a group contains only sheep of the same breed. They are raised in the same climate conditions. We can call that group of same-breed sheep a mob.
Examples:
- Sheep can swim. A mob of sheep was crossing the river by swimming without hesitation.
- A mob of sheep was standing in heavy rain, so a shepherd took them to a shed.
7. Fall
Another word for a group of sheep is a fall.
Examples:
- While travelling, I saw a fall of sheep walking by the road. It seemed so beautiful.
- A fall of sheep was running through the field.
8. Drift
We can use the word drift for a group of sheep moving slowly and aimlessly. That is, the collective noun drift refers to the movement of the sheep.
Examples:
- She burst out laughing, seeing the drift of sheep. It was new to her.
- Usually, we can see sheep’s drifts returning from pasture in the evening.
9. Trip
We use the word trip to refer to a group of sheep moving simultaneously and frequently. The collective noun ‘trip’ is rarely used in English.
Examples:
- I always see a trip of sheep walking around the field when I travel by this road.
- We passed the hotel, and a trip of sheep came into view. We had to stop our car until it went down the road.
More names for a group of sheep are –
- Wing
- Down
- Hurtle
Conclusion
Here are 12 collective nouns for a group of sheep that we discussed and can use.
Have a look.
- flock
- Herd
- Band
- drove
- fold
- mob
- fall
- drift
- trip
- wing
- down
- hurtle
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