Have you ever wondered what the name for a group of seals is? You’ll find that there is usually a collective noun assigned to a group of one type of animal. However, when it comes to a group of seals, the question of what to call them doesn’t have as simple of an answer as you may think.
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What Is the Name for a Group of Seals?
There are actually multiple terms you can use to refer to a group of seals, just like there are many terms for a collective of “bats.” “Herd” is the most commonly used term for a group of seals.
A herd typically refers to a group of animals that travel, feed, mate, and socialize together, often for protection from predators. Usually led by an alpha animal, the herd follows this leader in finding food or moving to new locations.
Seals are considered part of a herd because they often travel in groups. The size of the herd varies by species, with groups ranging from as few as 10 seals to over a thousand! Some species of seals also tend to be more social than others.
When using “herd” in a sentence, it is used in its singular form because it refers to the group in a singular entity. For example, “A herd of seals is on the beach.”
Other collective nouns used to describe a group of seals include pod, harem, raft, colony, rookery, bob or plump.
What Is a Collective Noun?
Collective nouns refer to a group or collective of people, animals, and things. In U.S. English, you wouldn’t treat a collective noun as a plural because it already refers to a group of something. Think of phrases like “A team of football players” or “A bench of judges.”
Animals are often described with collective nouns. Some of them are more obvious, such as “a herd of cows” or “a pack of wolves.” Others are less common, such as “a brood of penguins,” “a murder of crows” or “a troop of gorillas.”
So, Which Name Should You Use for a Collective of Seals?
There are a lot of potential collective nouns for seals, but how do you know which one to use? Although you can use a “herd” as an overarching term, the word you use actually depends on the characteristics of the group you’re describing.
- Herd – A group of seals that travel and feed together in the same area.
- Pod – Like a herd of seals — seals that travel and feed together.
- Harem – Female seals with a dominant male.
- Colony – A group of seals that live in the same area.
- Raft – Many seals resting on the surface of the water together.
- Rookery – A general group of breeding seals.
Get Your Seal of Approval
Seals are diverse animals, and the collective nouns used to describe them are just as diverse. Although a “herd” is the most common term, think of the type of seal group you’re writing about and choose the correct collective noun from there.
To learn other interesting facts about animals, check out these resources:
👉 BUY – The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids: 500 Wild Facts!
Want to learn more about collective nouns and find more grammatical guidance? Check out our Grammar Tips and learn from the experts.
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