One might not expect to stumble upon such curiosities as irregular plural forms. The word “salmon,” which is used by both diners and fishermen, is a great example of this type of grammar mistake. A lot of people get confused about this noun’s plural form because it doesn’t follow standard English rules for pluralization.
A lot of people who speak and write English get confused about the plural form of salmon. It’s not clear whether to use “salmon” or “salmons” when talking about more than one of these popular fish. This article will explain the correct way to use the plural form of “salmon.”
The Standard Plural of Salmon is Just “Salmon”
The generally accepted plural of salmon is simply “salmon. If you want to talk about more than one salmon, like different species or individual fish, just use the singular form without the “s.” “.
For example:
- The five Pacific salmon species swim upstream each year to spawn.
- Many salmon were jumping out of the water during their migration.
- Salmon populations have declined over the past century due to overfishing, habitat loss and dams.
So in most cases no matter if you are referring to one salmon or many the word stays the same – “salmon.”
Why Doesn’t Salmon Follow the Normal Plural Rules?
Typically in English, plurals are formed by adding “s” or “es” to the end of singular nouns For example
- Cat → Cats
- Bus → Buses
However, there are some exceptions where nouns stay the same in their plural form. Salmon is one of these irregular plurals that doesn’t change.
Other examples of plural nouns that remain unchanged include:
- Deer
- Sheep
- Fish
- Aircraft
So for salmon as with these other words no “s” is added on for plurals. This is why the correct plural is simply “salmon.”
When is it Acceptable to Use “Salmons”?
While not the standard plural, “salmons” is sometimes used when referring to multiple types or species of salmon. For example:
- The five salmons that migrate through the Columbia River are chinook, coho, sockeye, chum and pink.
In this case, “salmons” indicates different salmon species rather than individual fish. However, many style guides still prefer using “salmon species” rather than “salmons” in this context.
Outside of referring to salmon types, using “salmons” as a plural is generally seen as incorrect in standard English. Sticking with just “salmon” is the safer grammatical choice.
Regional Differences in Salmon Plurals
Another time you may come across “salmons” is in certain regional dialects where it is commonly used as the plural for salmon.
Some examples where “salmons” is more widely accepted include:
- In parts of Northern England and Scotland
- In Hiberno-English (Irish English)
- In Indian English
So if you are writing for a specific audience where “salmons” is the prevalent plural form, it may be appropriate to use it. But for general English usage, “salmon” remains the standard plural.
While it may seem counterintuitive, the plural of salmon is formed by using the same word as the singular – “salmon.” This irregular plural follows rules similar to “deer” and “sheep.” Adding an “s” to make “salmons” is generally seen as grammatically incorrect, unless referring to multiple salmon species or in certain regional dialects. When in doubt, stick with “salmon” for the plural and you’ll be safely following standard English grammar.
Examples of “Salmon” Used in Context
In sentences concerning a single fish, one might say, “She caught a large salmon during her trip. ” The emphasis here is on the singularity of the noun. If you want to talk about more than one of these fish, you could say, “They saw several salmon leaping upstream.” ” Despite speaking about multiple fish, the word “salmon” does not change.
Is Salmon Singular or Plural?
Here are some key points about the term “salmon”:
- There is no difference between singular and plural forms of the word. It means the same thing whether it’s one fish or many fish.
- Meaning is based on context: the amount of fish is usually clear from the context.
Examples of Usage:
- “I saw one salmon leaping upriver.” (Singular)
- “We spotted a school of salmon in the Pacific.” (Plural)
| Count Noun Usage | Non-count Noun Usage |
|---|---|
| When counted as individual fish | When referring to salmon as a type of food or species |
| “Three salmon were swimming upstream.” | “Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.” |
Determining Singular or Plural:
- Pay attention to modifiers in the sentence (e. g. , one salmon, several salmon).
- Quantifying expressions may be used for clarity (e. g. , a pair of salmon, schools of salmon).
What is the Plural of Fish?
FAQ
What is salmon in plural form?
What do you call more than one salmon?
What is the plural form of Salmen?
Is salmon a plural word?
Just like other types of fish, and the word ‘ fish ‘ itself, salmon keeps its singular form even when it’s used as a plural. This means that whether you want to say there’s one or more salmon, you can just use salmon. See the word in context: I just saw a salmon swimming in the lake! That’s because tons of salmon swim in this lake.
What is a healthy amount of salmon to consume per month?
This will depend on what type of salmon you consume. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not recommend eating salmon more than twice a week due to several types of contaminants present in the fish (if it is salmon from aquaculture, this number increases to once a month). Compared to aquaculture, wild salmon has lower levels of PCBs and better nutrients, however, its price comes to cost almost twice as much, in addition to being more difficult to find this product on the market. Consuming canned salmon is also a good tip – this is because, for the most part, it is of wild origin (apparently, farmed salmon does not keep well when canned).
What is salmon noun?
Definition of salmon noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary a large fish that has silver skin and is pink inside and is used for food. Salmon live in the sea but swim up rivers to lay their eggs. Scotland’s wild salmon population is in danger of being overwhelmed by the farmed variety. Questions about grammar and vocabulary?
What is the difference between salmon and a regular noun?
Unlike regular nouns that add -s or -es to form the plural, “salmon” stays the same. This rule is consistent regardless of the context in which the word “salmon” is used. I saw a salmon leaping upstream. There are five salmon in this river.