How Do You Spell Shrimp? A Guide to the Proper Spelling and Plurals

Shrimp is one of the most popular seafood ingredients around. Its sweet, briny flavor enhances everything from pasta to tacos. But many people struggle with how to actually spell this tasty crustacean. Should it be “shrimp” or “shrimps”? What’s the plural form? Let’s dive into the proper spelling and grammar for this shellfish.

The Basic Spelling is “Shrimp”

The standard spelling is “shrimp” – no letter ‘s’ on the end This is true whether referring to one or multiple of these creatures, Some examples

• I’m making garlic shrimp for dinner tonight.
• We ordered a platter of grilled shrimp at the restaurant.

So the basic spelling remains “shrimp” even if talking about many shrimp,

Plural Forms: “Shrimp” vs “Shrimps”

While the regular plural of shrimp is just “shrimp”, the form “shrimps” is also considered correct by many dictionaries and style guides.

Some examples:

• The fishing trawler hauled in a big catch of shrimps today.
• There are over 2,000 species of shrimps worldwide.

So both “shrimp” and “shrimps” work grammatically as the plural noun. However, “shrimp” is more common in the United States, while “shrimps” is more widely used in British English.

Other Correct Plural Spellings

A few other less common plural forms are also technically acceptable:

• Shrimpes – Very archaic and not in modern use
• Shrimpi – Also extremely outdated and rare

But for all intents and purposes, stick to either “shrimp” or “shrimps” as the plural.

Spelling Tip: It’s Not “Shrimps” When Referring to Size

One spelling trap to avoid is using “shrimps” when simply referring to the small size of an individual shrimp:

• Incorrect: I sautéed some tiny shrimps in garlic butter.
• Correct: I sautéed some tiny shrimp in garlic butter.

The word stays singular (“shrimp”) here since it describes each individual piece. The plural is only used when Quantities are involved:

• I cooked up two dozen shrimps for the party. (PL)

The Origin of “Shrimp”

The word “shrimp” first emerged in the early 14th century, adapted from the Middle English term “shrimpe”. Earlier roots can be traced back to Old English and Germanic languages, where it referenced the shriveled appearance of the curled-up crustaceans.

Over centuries of use, “shrimp” became the standard spelling in English by the 1600s. The form was later pluralized as either “shrimp” or “shrimps”, retaining the original singular spelling.

How to Spell Related Words

The shrimp spelling conventions also apply to some derived terms:

• Shrimper – Someone who fishes for shrimp
• Shrimping – The act of catching shrimp
• Shrimpy – Resembling a shrimp in small size

All keep the base “shrimp” spelling. But note thatAdding “y” usually changes the word to an adjective.

Using “Shrimp” vs “Prawn”

Another common question is when to use “shrimp” versus “prawn”. Although they refer to similar crustaceans, there are some distinctions:

• Shrimp – Typically smaller, smoother shells, curl up bodies
• Prawns – Larger, spiny shells, straight bodies

So shrimp tend to be the smaller variety with sweeter meat, while prawns are larger with a more lobster-like flavor. But there is a lot of crossover between the terms.

Key Takeaways on Spelling

To summarize the main guidelines:

• The standard singular and plural spelling is “shrimp”
• “Shrimps” is also an accepted plural, especially in British English
• Use “shrimp” for size and “shrimps” for quantities
• The base spelling holds for words like “shrimper” and “shrimping”
• Prawns are generally larger cousins to classic shrimp

So don’t get tripped up by shrimp/shrimps – now you know the proper spelling for any situation. Just focus on cooking up some delicious garlic shrimp or shrimp scampi, knowing you have the grammar covered.