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Language is a fundamental part of learning, from elementary school to college. Comparing languages is one of the ways we understand them better. For instance, look at the way we count and group things.

The Japanese language has a different counter for practically every object. As an example, “two dogs” is translated as inu nihiki, where “inu” is dog, “ni” is two, and “hiki” is small animal. If you say “two stamps” though, the counter changes; it translates into “sutanpu nimai,” where “suntanpu” is stamp, “ni” is two, and “mai” is small, flat objects.

English speakers find this fascinating. Why not just say “two dogs” and “two stamps?”

Before you write Japanese off as a stranger language though, consider the collective nouns in English, which all mean “group” but change based on the thing being grouped: a crowd of people, a school of fish, or a herd of kangaroos. The following are a hundred different ways to group creatures!

1. Army of Ants
2. Colony of Ants
3. Swarm of Ants
4. Flange of Baboons
5. Congress of Baboons
6. Tribe of Baboons
7. Sleuth of Bears
8. Sloth of Bears
9. Pack of Bears (polar bears only!)
10. Flight of Bees
11. Grist of Bees
12. Hive of Bees
13. Swarm of Bees
14. Congregation of Birds
15. Flight of Birds
16. Flock of Birds
17. Herd of Boar
18. Sounder of Boar
19. Rabble of Butterflies
20. Swarm of Butterflies
21. Clutter of Cats
22. Litter of Cats (kittens only!)
23. Pride of Cats
24. Drove of Cattle
25. Herd of Cattle
26. Team of Cattle
27. Yoke of Cattle (two cattle only!)
28. Brood of Chickens
29. Flock of Chickens
30. Clutch of Chickens (chicks only!)
31. Herd of Chinchillas
32. Bed of Clams
33. Quiver of Cobras
34. Band of Coyotes
35. Siege of Cranes
36. Congregation of Crocodiles
37. Float of Crocodiles
38. Herd of Deer
39. Parcel of Deer
40. Kennel of Dogs
41. Pack of Dogs
42. Litter of Dogs (puppies only!)
43. Pod of Dolphins
44. Drove of Donkeys
45. Herd of Donkeys
46. Bevy of Doves
47. Cote of Doves
48. Flight of Doves
49. Flight of Dragons
50. Weyr of Dragons
51. Wing of Dragons
52. Flock of Ducks
53. Paddling of Ducks
54. Team of Ducks
55. Aerie of Eagles
56. Convocation of Eagles
57. Swarm of Eels
58. Herd of Elephants
59. Parade of Elephants
60. Business of Ferrets
61. Cast of Ferrets
62. Fesnying of Ferrets
63. Catch of Fish
64. Haul of Fish
65. Run of Fish
66. School of Fish
67. Shoal of Fish
68. Army of Frogs
69. Colony of Frogs
70. Knot of Frogs
71. Flock of Geese
72. Gaggle of Geese
73. Skein of Geese (only in flight!)
74. Wedge of Geese (only when they fly in a “V”!)
75. Horde of Gerbils
76. Herd of Giraffes
77. Tower of Giraffes
78. Cloud of Gnats
79. Horde of Gnats
80. Swarm of Gnats
81. Herd of Goats
82. Tribe of Goats
83. Horde of Hamsters
84. Drove of Hares
85. Warren of Hares
86. Aerie of Hawks
87. Kettle of Hawks
88. Array of Hedgehogs
89. Prickle of Hedgehogs
90. Colony of Penguins
91. Huddle of Penguins
92. Parcel of Penguins
93. Rookery of Penguins
94. Herd of Pigs
95. Litter of Pigs
96. Gaze of Raccoons
97. Nursery of Raccoons
98. School of Shark
99. Shiver of Shark
100. Zeal of Zebras

Why not just say “a group of people” and “a group of fish?” Why say “inu nihiki” and “suntanpu nimai?” The English language’s collective nouns are just as fascinating as the counters of the Japanese language; maybe English isn’t as simple as we thought after all!

For those interested in learning more about collective nouns, try out this site and this site. Thanks for visiting K-12 Directory of Schools Blog!