Whether you’re talking about a single sheep or a whole flock, you just say ‘sheep’.
The plural of sheep is ‘sheep’
Yes, this is unusual in English because most of the time, to talk about more than one of something, you add an -s or -es to the end of the word. But there are some words that don’t follow this rule. ‘Sheep’ is one of those unique words.
If you spot a bunch of these woolly creatures in a pasture, you can say, “Look at all the sheep.” You use the same word even if there was only one.
Why does ‘sheep’ remain the same in both singular and plural form?
‘Sheep’ is a unique word that doesn’t follow the usual rules for making plurals. In English, some words remain the same whether you’re talking about one or many, and we call these ‘unchanging’ or ‘invariable’ nouns.
That’s why you use ‘sheep’ to talk about either a single animal or multiple ones. ‘Deer’ is another word like this; ‘deer’ could mean one deer or several.
This isn’t very common, but it’s good to remember. These exceptions to the normal plural rules can seem odd when you first come across them.
Examples of Using the Singular of Sheep in A Sentence
“You notice a sheep grazing alone in the meadow.”
“When you call its name, that sheep looks up.”
“Your dog is as quiet as a sheep.“
“There’s a sheep blocking your path.”
“You hear a sheep bleating every day at dawn.”
Examples of Using the Plural of Sheep in A Sentence
“You often see sheep grazing in the fields.”
“If you count sheep before bed, you might fall asleep faster.”
“The sheep huddle together during a storm.”
“When sheep are sheared, you can watch the process.”
“You need to ensure the sheep have enough water.”
Plural of Sheep: UK vs US english
You will find no difference between UK and US English here. For both dialects, the singular and plural forms of the word “sheep” remain the same. This exception in pluralization is common to certain animal names in English, and it stands consistently across various English-speaking regions.
Key Points:
- Singular: sheep
- Plural: sheep
- Applies to: Both UK and US English
Frequently Asked Questions
What term is used to refer to a group of sheep?
A group of sheep is commonly called a flock. In certain contexts, you might also hear the terms herd or mob, but flock remains the most widely used term.
How does the plural form of ‘sheep’ compare to other irregular plurals in English?
The word “sheep” is an irregular noun in English because its plural form is the same as its singular form. This is similar to other irregular animal names like “deer” and “fish,” where the plural does not end in -s or -es.
What is the reasoning behind some animal names not changing form in the plural?
The lack of change in form for some animal names in the plural, like “sheep,” often traces back to old linguistic roots. In this case, “sheep” has an Old English origin, where the word didn’t change between singular and plural. Such exceptions in modern English often reflect these ancient usage patterns.
