130 Examples of the Plural of Fish: Rules, Uses & Examples

Understanding the Plural of Fish in English

The plural of fish is one of the most interesting cases in English grammar. Most nouns simply add “-s” or “-es” to become plural, but “fish” doesn’t always follow that rule. In fact, English treats “fish” as both a regular and irregular plural depending on context. This is why you will sometimes see “fish” and sometimes “fishes” — and both can be correct. The choice depends on meaning, not on spelling rules alone.

In grammar terms, fish is often an irregular plural noun when it keeps the same form for singular and plural. You can say, “I caught one fish” and “I caught ten fish.” However, English also allows the plural “fishes” when referring to more than one species of fish. Understanding the difference is important, because native speakers naturally switch between these forms depending on whether they are talking about quantity or diversity.

Freshwater Fish (Plural = Fish)

Plural Word	Meaning	Example
Trout	Freshwater fish with speckled bodies	We caught five trout in the river.
Bass	Popular game fish	The lake is full of bass this season.
Perch	Freshwater fish with vertical stripes	Fishermen caught perch near the dock.
Pike	Long predatory fish	Pike are aggressive hunters in the lake.
Carp	Large freshwater fish	The pond is home to many carp.
Catfish	Fish with whisker-like barbels	Catfish are common in muddy waters.
Walleye	North American game fish	Walleye are prized for their taste.
Bream	Freshwater fish species	Bream swims in large schools.
Roach	Small silver fish	Roach are found in European rivers.
Chub	Freshwater fish living in streams	Anglers often catch chub on summer days.

Saltwater Fish (Plural = Fish)

Plural Word	Meaning	Example
Cod	Cold-water white fish	Cod are popular in fish and chips.
Haddock	Saltwater fish similar to cod	Haddock is sold fresh or smoked.
Mackerel	Small oily fish	Mackerel are fast swimmers.
Herring	Schooling fish from the sea	Herring migrate in huge groups.
Sardine	Small edible fish	Sardines are packed in oil for storage.
Anchovy	Small salty fish	Anchovies are used on pizzas.
Pollock	Commercial white fish	Pollock are common in frozen fillets.
Flounder	Flat fish found near coasts	Flounder hide in sandy seabeds.
Halibut	Large flat fish	Halibut are caught in cold seas.
Snapper	Tropical saltwater fish	Snappers are common in coral reefs.

Tropical & Aquarium Fish (Plural = Fish)

Plural Word	Meaning	Example
Clownfish	Colorful reef fish	Clownfish live in sea anemones.
Parrotfish	Bright coral reef fish	Parrotfish graze on coral algae.
Angelfish	Ornamental aquarium fish	Angelfish add beauty to tanks.
Guppy	Small tropical fish	Guppies breed quickly in aquariums.
Betta	Aggressive aquarium fish	Bettas fight if kept together.
Molly	Hardy tropical fish	Mollies are easy for beginners.
Swordtail	Aquarium fish with sword-like tail	Swordtails are peaceful swimmers.
Koi	Ornamental pond fish	Koi are symbols of good fortune.
Goldfish	Common pet fish	Goldfish can live over a decade.
Neon Tetra	Small glowing fish	Neon tetras school together in tanks.

Plural as “Fishes” (Different Species)

Plural Word	Meaning	Example
Tropical fishes	Many tropical species	Tropical fishes fill the coral reefs.
Freshwater fishes	Species in rivers and lakes	Freshwater fishes thrive in clean water.
Marine fishes	Ocean species	Marine fishes are studied in biology.
Migratory fishes	Species that travel far	Migratory fishes return to spawn.
Reef fishes	Fish in coral reefs	Reef fishes face habitat loss.
Amazon fishes	Species in the Amazon River	Amazon fishes include piranhas and tetras.
Arctic fishes	Fish in cold seas	Arctic fishes survive in icy waters.
Endangered fishes	Threatened species	Endangered fishes need protection.
Fishes	Rare imported species	Fishes are sold in pet shops.
Deep-sea fishes	Fish from deep ocean	Deep-sea fishes glow in the dark.

Fishing & Food Context (Plural = Fish)

Plural Word	Meaning	Example
Tuna	Large ocean fish	Tuna are caught for sushi.
Marlin	Sport fishing target	Marlin are powerful swimmers.
Swordfish	Long-billed ocean fish	Swordfish are grilled in restaurants.
Grouper	Large reef fish	Groupers are caught by divers.
Tarpon	Big silver game fish	Tarpon leap when hooked.
Shark	Marine predator	Sharks are apex predators.
Eel	Snake-like fish	Eels are eaten in Japan.
Monkfish	Ugly deep-sea fish	Monkfish are delicious despite their looks.
Sole	Flat edible fish	Sole is used in fine dining.
Mullet	Coastal fish	Mullets jump near the surface.

Science & Research (Plural = Fishes)

Plural Word	Meaning	Example
Coral reef fishes	Multiple reef species	Coral reef fishes are biodiversity hotspots.
Taxonomic fishes	Classified species	Taxonomic fishes are listed by scientists.
Biodiversity fishes	Species variety	Biodiversity fishes show ecosystem health.
Research fishes	Studied species	Research fishes help in marine studies.
Breeding fishes	Fish raised for reproduction	Breeding fishes are kept in hatcheries.
Genetic fishes	Fish used for DNA study	Genetic fishes are tested in labs.
Fossil fishes	Ancient extinct species	Fossil fishes reveal prehistoric life.
Protected fishes	Legally safeguarded species	Protected fishes cannot be hunted.
Commercial fishes	Species sold for trade	Commercial fishes dominate seafood markets.
Aquarium fishes	Kept in tanks for display	Aquarium fishes need clean environments.

Idioms & Cultural References

Plural Word	Meaning	Example
Big fish	Important person	He’s a big fish in a small pond.
Plenty of fish	Many opportunities	There are plenty of fish in the sea.
Different fishes	Variety of choices	The festival displayed different fishes from around the world.
Like fish out of water	Feeling uncomfortable	She felt like a fish out of water.
Big fish story	Exaggerated tale	That’s just a big fish story.
Fishing fishes	Targeting various species	They were fishing for research.
Cultural fishes	Fish with cultural meaning	Cultural fishes celebrated in rituals.
Festival fishes	Fish used in events	Festival fishes cooked for guests.
Artistic fishes	Fish in art	Artistic fishes painted on ceramics.
Mythical fishes	Fish in legends	Mythical fishes appear in old stories.

Plural Forms in Scientific Contexts

Word	Meaning	Example
Species of fish	Different kinds of fish in biology	The Amazon has many species of fish.
Marine fishes	Saltwater fish species	Marine fishes live in oceans worldwide.
Tropical fishes	Fish from warm climates	Aquariums often display tropical fishes.
Coral reef fishes	Fish living around coral reefs	Coral reef fishes are colorful and diverse.
Migratory fishes	Fish that travel long distances	Salmon are migratory fishes.
Freshwater fishes	Fish living in rivers and lakes	Freshwater fishes thrive in clean water.
Saltwater fishes	Fish living in seas and oceans	Tuna and mackerel are saltwater fishes.
Endangered fishes	Fish at risk of extinction	Conservation protects endangered fishes.
Aquarium fishes	Fish kept in tanks for display	Many people keep aquarium fishes as pets.
Taxonomic fishes	Fish classified by scientists	Taxonomic fishes grouped by features.

Plural Forms in Fishing & Trade

Word	Meaning	Example
Market fishes	Fish sold in markets	The market had fresh market fish.
Catch of fishes	Group of fish caught	The boat brought a catch of fishes.
Seafood fishes	Fish for eating	Restaurants buy seafood fish daily.
Commercial fishes	Fish caught for business	Tuna are popular commercial fishes.
River fishes	Fish found in rivers	Anglers enjoy catching river fishes.
Ocean fishes	Fish from oceans	Many ocean fishes migrate in schools.
Lake fishes	Fish from lakes	Lake fishes are often freshwater species.
Net of fishes	Fish caught in a fishing net	The fisherman pulled in a net of fishes.
Dock fishes	Fish at fishing docks	Workers unloaded the dock fishes.
Harbor fishes	Fish near harbors	Many harbor fishes feed on scraps.

Literature & Idioms

Word	Meaning	Example
Story of fishes	Fiction about fish	The book told a story of fishes.
School of fishes	Group swimming together	A school of fishes passed by the reef.
Tale of fishes	A narrated fish story	He wrote a tale of fishes.
Fishes in the sea	Many opportunities	Remember, there are fishes in the sea.
Big fishes	Important people	The company only hires big fishes.
Little fishes	Unimportant players	In politics, small parties are little fishes.
Strange fishes	Unusual types of fish	Divers saw strange fishes in the cave.
Talking fishes	Mythical fish characters	Folktales speak of talking fishes.
Magical fishes	Fish in fantasy stories	The pond had magical fishes.
Dancing fishes	Fish moving in patterns	The video showed dancing fishes.

Plural Forms in Education & Grammar

Word	Meaning	Example
Grammar fishes	Example word in grammar	We studied grammar fishes in class.
Plural fishes	More than one fish	The chart lists plural fishes.
Singular vs fishes	Grammar comparison	We learned singular vs fishes rules.
Irregular fishes	Unusual plural form	Irregular fishes confuse learners.
Language fishes	Fish in language examples	Language fishes help teach grammar.
Worksheet fishes	Example in worksheets	The teacher printed worksheet fishes.
Dictionary fishes	Fish terms in dictionaries	The dictionary lists many dictionary fishes.
Textbook fishes	Fish words in textbooks	Students found textbook fishes.
Example fishes	Sample plural form	These are example fishes for practice.
Vocabulary fishes	Fish words for vocab lists	Kids learned vocabulary fish today.

Plural Forms in Biology Research

Word	Meaning	Example
Study of fishes	Scientific research	She’s doing a study of fishes.
Research fishes	Fish in studies	Labs keep research fish for testing.
Biodiversity fishes	Variety of fish species	The reef shows the biodiversity of fishes.
Evolution of fishes	How fish changed over time	Books explain the evolution of fishes.
Fossil fishes	Prehistoric fish remains	Museums display fossil fishes.
Rare fishes	Uncommon species	Divers spotted rare fishes.
Habitat fishes	Fish by habitat type	Rivers have a unique habitat for fish.
Native fishes	Fish from a region	The lake’s native fishes protected.
Fishes	Foreign species	Many fishes imported for aquariums.
Genetic fishes	Fish with studied genes	Genetic fishes help science advance.

Cultural & Historical Contexts

Word	Meaning	Example
Ancient fishes	Prehistoric fish species	Fossils reveal ancient fishes.
Sacred fishes	Fish in religious belief	The temple pond has sacred fishes.
Mythical fishes	Fish in myths	Tales speak of mythical fishes.
Decorative fishes	Fish for decoration	Hotels keep decorative fishes in tanks.
Festival fishes	Fish used in festivals	Japan has festival fishing traditions.
Painted fishes	Fish in art	The wall showed painted fishes.
Carved fishes	Fish in carvings	The sculpture displayed carved fishes.
Historical fishes	Fish in history	Books mention historical fishes.
Ceremonial fishes	Fish in ceremonies	Some cultures have ceremonial fishes.
Artistic fishes	Fish in artworks	Galleries feature artistic fishes.

Final Thoughts

The correct plural of fish depends on what you want to say. For everyday situations like a fishing trip or talking about fresh fish at the market, “fish” works in almost every case. But when your focus is on species variety, such as marine biology fishes or aquarium fishes, “fishes” is not only correct but more precise.

By understanding the difference between fish vs fishes, you can write and speak with more confidence. This knowledge is useful in grammar lessons, plural noun list with examples, and even in creative writing. Whether you are studying irregular plural nouns, reading a science book on ichthyology, or telling a big fish story, you now know when each form fits perfect.