Is the Plural of Shrimp Shrimp or Shrimps?
Quick Answer
The plural of shrimp is shrimp. You can also say shrimps, but shrimp is much more common.
Example: We ate shrimp for dinner last night.
Shrimp or Shrimps — See the Pattern
Look at these sentences. Can you see what happens to the word shrimp?
- I ate one shrimp. → I ate ten shrimp.
- There is a shrimp on my plate. → There are many shrimp on my plate.
- She bought some shrimp from the market.
- Scientists study different shrimps in the ocean. (different types)
Did you see the pattern? Most of the time, the word stays the same — shrimp. You only add -s when you talk about different types or kinds.
| When you mean | Use this | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One shrimp | shrimp | I found a shrimp in the net. |
| Many shrimp (same kind) | shrimp | We ate shrimp for dinner. |
| Different types | shrimps | The bay has many shrimps. |
When to Use Shrimp and When to Use Shrimps
Both words are correct. But they are used in different ways.
Use “shrimp” (no -s) when:
- You talk about food → “I love shrimp.”
- You talk about a group → “There are fifty shrimp in the tank.”
- You talk in everyday English → “We ordered grilled shrimp.”
Use “shrimps” (with -s) when:
- You talk about different types or kinds → “Scientists found three new shrimps in the deep sea.”
- You write about science → “These shrimps live in cold water.” (meaning different species)
Easy way to remember: If you are talking about food or a group, use shrimp. If you are talking about different types, you can use shrimps. When you are not sure, shrimp is always safe.
The Rule in One Line: Use shrimp for most sentences — add -s only for different types.
How to Use Shrimp in Everyday English
- We ordered fried shrimp at the restaurant. (food — no -s needed)
- My mother bought a bag of frozen shrimp from the shop. (a group — no -s needed)
- There are twenty shrimp in this bowl. (counting — no -s needed)
- The aquarium has many different shrimps from around the world. (different types — -s is correct here)
- I love eating shrimp with rice. (food — no -s needed)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make with this word.
The Most Common Mistake With Shrimp
Even advanced learners add -s to shrimp when they do not need to — so if you make this mistake, you are not alone. Your brain wants to follow the normal rule and add -s, but shrimp is a special word.
Mistake 1: Adding -s for a group
✗ We ate shrimps for dinner.
✓ We ate shrimp for dinner.
Mistake 2: Adding -s on a menu or recipe
✗ Grilled shrimps with lemon sauce.
✓ Grilled shrimp with lemon sauce.
Mistake 3: Using “shrimp” when you mean different types
✗ The scientist counted five different shrimp in the bay. (sounds like the same kind)
✓ The scientist counted five different shrimps in the bay. (five different types)
How to remember: Think of the word shrimp like the word fish. You say “I caught ten fish,” not “ten fishes.” Shrimp works the same way in everyday English.
Other words like this: fish → fish, deer → deer, sheep → sheep, salmon → salmon.
Test Yourself: Shrimp or Shrimps?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. I love eating _______ with rice.
2. Scientists found three new types of _______.
3. We bought some _______ from the market.
4. There are twenty _______ in this bowl.
5. The ocean is home to many different _______.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned that shrimp stays the same for one or many — and you only add -s for different types. That is one more word you will never get wrong again.
But here is something interesting. The word salmon works the same way — one salmon, many salmon. But what happens when you talk about different types of salmon? Is it “salmons” or still “salmon”? The answer is not what you might expect.
Next lesson: What Is the Plural of Salmon?
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
