English is a tricky language, full of surprises at every turn. Every time you think you know the rules, something comes up that makes you question everything again. It’s the kind of adventure that keeps linguists and English learners on their toes. And one such curveball? The word “shrimps. ”.
It might have been said to you or written on a menu, making your brain go into a little war. Is it a mistake or just a weird English thing? This article aims to clear the air (no pun intended) on this seafood terminology mess. But before we tell you the answer, let’s look more closely at why this plural form is so hard to understand.
In English, both “shrimp” and “shrimps” can be correct, depending on the context. If you want to talk about the sea creature as a whole, go ahead and use “shrimp” without the “s.” For example, “Shrimp is delicious. But if you’re talking about more than one individual animal or species of this seafood, you should add an “s” and say “shrimps.” ” An example would be, “I saw many shrimps at the aquarium. ” So, whether you use “shrimp” or “shrimps” depends on the specifics of what you’re discussing.
Shrimp is one of those words that often leaves people scratching their heads when it comes to pluralization. Is it shrimps or shrimp? Well, the answer is not so straightforward. Both forms are actually considered correct, though shrimps is more common in British English while shrimp is more prevalent in American English.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the intriguing pluralization of shrimp, looking at:
- The definition of shrimp
- The origins and history of the word
- Whether shrimps or shrimp is more grammatically correct
- Examples of shrimp in a sentence
- How to use the plural form in a sentence
- The slang meaning of shrimp
- Synonyms for shrimp
Let’s start with the basics – what exactly is a shrimp?
What is a Shrimp?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a shrimp is “any of numerous mostly small and marine decapod crustaceans (suborders Dendrobranchiata and Pleocyemata) having a slender, elongated body, a compressed abdomen, and a long spiny rostrum and including some (especially family Penaeidae) that are commercially important as food”
In simpler terms, shrimp are small, edible crustaceans that live in saltwater habitats. They have long tails, stalked eyes, and slender legs. Shrimp are a very popular type of seafood and are prepared in many different ways, from grilled shrimp skewers to popcorn shrimp to shrimp cocktails.
Some of the most common species of shrimp are
- White leg shrimp
- Brown shrimp
- Pink shrimp
- Rock shrimp
- Royal red shrimp
Now that we know what a shrimp is, let’s look at the tricky business of pluralizing it.
Is the Plural of Shrimp “Shrimps” or “Shrimp”?
This is where things get interesting. According to dictionaries both shrimps and shrimp are technically correct plural forms. However their usage differs between British and American English.
In British English, it is more common to use shrimps as the plural. For example:
- These shrimps are perfectly cooked.
- We ordered two servings of garlic shrimps.
Meanwhile, shrimp is more prevalent in American English. For instance:
- I’ll have the shrimp scampi please.
- We caught buckets of shrimp on our fishing trip.
That said, shrimps is not incorrect in American English either. But overall, shrimp appears more frequently as the plural form in the US.
- British English tends to use shrimps
- American English tends to use shrimp
But both variants are grammatically acceptable.
This difference in usage is believed to stem from the evolution of the word shrimp in the US compared to the UK. Nonetheless, experts agree both plurals are fine to use.
The Origin and History of “Shrimp”
Unlike many English words, shrimp does not have roots in Latin or Greek. According to Etymonline, it originated in the early 14th century in Middle English as a word referring to the crustacean.
This Middle English word derived from the Old English “shrimpe” and the Old Norse “skreppa” meaning thin person. It comes from the Proto-Germanic “skrimpaz”.
Therefore, unlike many imported English words, shrimp has distinctly Germanic origins. It entered the language before the Renaissance influence of Latin and Greek.
Over the centuries, shrimp evolved along slightly different paths in British and American English, leading to the subtle difference in plurals we see today. But its Germanic roots are still intact.
Using “Shrimp” in a Sentence
Now that we’ve clarified the plural issue, let’s look at how to use shrimp in a sentence as both a singular and plural form:
- I ordered shrimp tempura at the Japanese restaurant last night.
- The shrimp was cooked to perfection – tender and moist inside with a light, crispy coating.
- For dinner, we grilled up some lemon shrimp on skewers and made shrimp tacos with the rest.
- There are many shrimp species, from tiny grass shrimps to giant tiger prawns.
- The fisherman caught a net full of shrimp which he took to the market to sell.
- Shrimp scampi is one of my favorite ways to eat shrimp – I love the butter, garlic and white wine sauce.
- Sam is allergic to shellfish, so he can’t eat shrimp or any other crustaceans.
As you can see, both singular shrimp and plural shrimp can be used in a grammatically correct way.
The Slang Meaning of “Shrimp”
Shrimp has a slang usage too. When used to describe a person, shrimp is a derogatory or disparaging term meaning someone who is small or puny in stature. For example:
- That kid is a shrimp – he’s so easy to beat at basketball.
- Don’t pick on him, he may be a shrimp but he could still surprise you.
Because shrimp are tiny, skinny creatures, the slang shrimp implies weakness or a lack of power. So it’s often used as an insult toward someone’s physical size or strength.
Synonyms for Shrimp
There are a few words that are synonymous with shrimp:
- Prawn – though scientifically a different species, prawns and shrimp are close cousins. The terms are often used interchangeably.
- Runt – used as slang, a runt is an animal or person who is smaller than usual. Similar to the slang meaning of shrimp.
- Mite – used to describe a very small insect or creature, similar to shrimp being one of the smallest marine animals.
In Summary
While odd-sounding to some ears, both shrimp and shrimps are correct plural forms of shrimp, with shrimps being more common in British English and shrimp more popular in American English. But both are grammatically acceptable no matter where you are.
This quirk stems from the distinctly Germanic origins of shrimp, which entered English separately from the Latin-Greek influences seen in most English words.
So next time you’re describing these succulent, diminutive shellfish, you can use shrimp or shrimps interchangeably and rest assured you have the plural right.
The Role of Regional Variations in Usage
When choosing between “shrimp” and “shrimps,” it’s important to think about how people in different areas speak and use the word “shrimp.” ” In American English, “shrimp” is more commonly used, while British English tends to favor “shrimps. ” Additionally, the term “prawns” may replace “shrimp” in British English. Here are some examples:
- American English: I love eating shrimp with cocktail sauce.
- British English: I love eating shrimps with cocktail sauce.
- British English alternative: I love eating prawns with cocktail sauce.
It’s okay to use “shrimps” in some situations, even in American English. For example, you can talk about different kinds of shrimp, catch shrimp, or use it as a mild insult to name someone short:
Finally, the most important thing to know about using “shrimp” and “shrimps” correctly is how the words are used in different situations and regions. You can be sure that your choice between “shrimp” and “shrimps” is always correct and appropriate by thinking about how many there are, the variety of shrimp species and types, and differences in regional language.
Exploring the Plural Forms of “Shrimp”
In the English language, the shrimp plural form can manifest in two ways: “shrimp” or “shrimps. ” Both versions are grammatically correct and firmly upheld by animal pluralization rules. When speaking of a group of these crustaceans in general, “shrimp” is the customary term. You can use “shrimps” as a plural word, though, especially when talking about more than one group or species of these sea creatures.
As you might expect from a sea with so much variety, marine biology has its own terms for different groups of shrimp. For instance, they are often identified as colonies or schools, reflecting their natural underwater habitats. It is important to note that the plural forms of shrimp, “shrimp” and “shrimps,” come from Old English and Old Norse, not Romance languages.
Distinguished dictionaries, such as the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster, declare both “shrimp” and “shrimps” as legitimate plurals. Such recognition emphasizes the linguistic flexibility attached to this marine term.
If you want to use animal plurals in English, the rules can be hard to understand and change for each species. Some follow the standard practice of adding “-s” or “-es” to make a word plural, while others, like shrimp, don’t follow these rules and have irregular plurals. These irregularities can also be observed in words like “deer,” “moose,” and “sheep,” further exemplifying English’s linguistic intricacies.
- Adding “-s” or “-es” to the end of a noun makes it a regular plural (e.g. g. , cats, dogs, boxes).
- If a plural word doesn’t end in “-s” or “-es,” it’s called an irregular plural. g. , shrimp, deer, sheep).
Figuring out the correct way to use plural forms for certain animals, like shrimp, will help you accurately show different numbers, groups, and species of these interesting sea creatures. Gaining a firm grasp of these rules can also dramatically improve your overall language proficiency and fluency.
Shrimp | Meaning of shrimp
Is shrimp a plural noun?
To be sure, what makes shrimp irregular as a plural noun in English is that its (more common) plural form stays the same as its singular form, and is just shrimp. It’s likely the case that shrimps came to be accepted as a plural form of shrimp overtime, since this is what one would assume the plural form of shrimp to be.
What is a group of shrimp called?
There is no definite term used universally to describe a group of shrimp, mostly due to the fact that shrimp are often solitary and only form into groups during the spawning season, so the plural shrimps does not often come into use for describing the wild. What Does Shrimp Mean in Slang?
Is shrimp a slang word?
There is also a slang use of the word shrimp, which is usually derogatory or disparaging and means a puny person. Yes, there is, in fact, a plural form of shrimp. The dictionary differs here depending on which version you look at, but there are usually two accepted versions of the plural of shrimp: shrimp and shrimps.
Is shrimp countable or uncountable?
Shrimp is both countable and uncountable. When used as a countable noun, it refers to a single shrimp or multiple shrimp. When used as an uncountable noun, it refers to the meat of shrimp in general. Is six shrimp plural or singular? Six shrimp is considered plural because the number is greater than one. What is the plural form of shrimp in the UK?