Collective Nouns
Collective nouns name groups as single units, and they shape how we think about and talk about those groups in Spanish.
Common Collectives
Common collective nouns come from everyday contexts like groups of people, animals, or things, and they help packaging references neatly.
| Spanish Word | English Word |
|---|---|
| manada | herd, pack |
| rebaño | flock |
| pandilla | gang, group |
| equipo | team |
| grupo | group |
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌸 Un ramo de flores llegó para la boda. | A bouquet of flowers arrived for the wedding. |
| 🍰 Llegó una bandeja de pasteles para la fiesta. | A tray of pastries arrived for the party. |
| 🎈 Colgamos un montón de globos en la entrada. | We hung a bunch of balloons at the entrance. |
| 🍾 Descartaron una caja de botellas para la recepción. | They unloaded a box of bottles for the reception. |
| 🕯️ Encendieron una docena de velas en las mesas. | They lit a dozen candles on the tables. |
| 🎶 Llegó un grupo de músicos para amenizar la fiesta. | A group of musicians arrived to liven up the party. |
| 🧺 Prepararon una cesta de frutas para los invitados. | They prepared a basket of fruit for the guests. |
Usage
Collective nouns are usually singular in form and take singular agreement when the group is seen as one unit; they take plural agreement when the members are emphasized.
Expressions
Set expressions with collective nouns often fix meaning and usage, so learning them as chunks pays off for natural speech and writing.
| Spanish Expression | English Expression |
|---|---|
| un grupo de personas | a group of people |
| una manada de lobos | a pack of wolves |
| una pandilla de niños | a gang of kids |
| un equipo de jugadores | a team of players |
| un rebaño de ovejas | a flock of sheep |
Summary
Collective nouns name groups as single units; they are typically singular and require agreement that matches whether the group is seen as one entity or as individual members.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025