Collective Nouns
Collective nouns name a group or collection viewed as a single unit.
Definition
A collective noun is a word that describes a group of members — such as people, animals, or things — considered as one whole.
Examples in English
Usage in Spanish
In Spanish, collective nouns are also singular words that represent a whole group.
Key Point
You talk about the group as one entity, so you use singular grammar (e.g., verb agreement).
Examples in Spanish
Sample Sentences
Changing Meaning
Some collective nouns can have different meanings depending on context.
Examples
Plural Forms
You can make collective nouns plural to talk about multiple groups.
Examples
Summary
- Collective nouns name groups as single units.
- They are grammatically singular in Spanish.
- Meaning stays about the whole group, not individuals.
- You can pluralize them to refer to multiple groups.
- Context is important for words with multiple meanings.
Collective nouns allow you to talk about groups efficiently and clearly in both Spanish and English.
Here are some common collective nouns in Spanish, organized by category.
People
Animals
Things
Animals — Wolves
Usage Tips
- Always use singular verb form with collective noun:El equipo juega.
- Use plural form if emphasizing individuals within the group:Los miembros del equipo son talentosos.
- Context will guide correct meaning, especially for ambiguous words.
Collective nouns are a useful part of vocabulary for describing groups in Spanish.
Here are some vivid examples of collective nouns in Spanish sentences.
People
Animals
Things
These examples show how collective nouns function naturally in Spanish.
Get Started
Track your progress, chat with the AI, access more exercises.
Last updated: Thu Jul 17, 2025