What is more common "fish" or "fishes"?

Question

Tengo una pregunta, ¿qué es más común usar: fish o fishes? Hablando de pez en plural. He oído a gente que usa "fishes" y se oye raro. Yo uso "fish" para singular y plural. I have a question. What is more common to use, fish or fishes (plural)? I have heard some people use "fishes" and I thought that it sounds odd. I use "fish" for singular and plural.

Answer 1

I agree that "fishes" sounds odd. I have always heard that fish is the plural when you are talking about fish in general ( How many fish did you buy?) and fishes when referring to multiple species ( The lake is home to many species of fishes.) Personally I tend to always use fish as the plural anyway since it sounds more natural to me, but that can vary by region I'm sure.

Answer 2

En inglés usualmente se dice 'fish' por singular y plural. 'I caught a fish today'. 'There are many fish in the lake.'

'Fishes' usualmente se usa cuando se habla sobre mas de un especie de pescado. No se usa mucho.

Answer 3

The bible speaks of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Some quotes speak of two loaves and five fishes, others of seven loaves and fishes. Typical

I think this is the only instance where the plural of fish is rendered as "fishes". The convention in the UK at least, is that the plural of "fish" is "fish", similarly we have 1 sheep and 20 sheep.

On the other hand, "1611 Bible Num. xi. 22 Shal all the fish of the sea bee gathered together for them?" from the O E D. - samdie, Jun 17, 2010

Answer 4

Are you asking about the noun or the verb? I fish, you fish, he / she / it fishes. Since there are more in the he / she / it category than in the I category, I would say fishes is used more often than fish. He fishes for fish, she fishes for compliments and I fish for smiles.

Very pertinent...we all missed that. - sfrenchie, May 15, 2010

Au contraire, mon amie. She said "fishes (plural)" I am sure she meant noun; I was just being me! - LateToDinner, May 15, 2010

Answer 5

In both the Merriam-Webster English Dictionary and in the Oxford Spanish dictionary, they say that the plural of fish is both fish or fishes.

I would say that fish is probably used more often than fishes.

But either way is the plural.

Thank you. Gracias! - 00e46f15, May 14, 2010

Answer 6

I've never heard anybody say fishes.

People sometimes say fishies to little children, a cute diminutive, but never fishes.

Hope that helps.

'Fishes' is technically the correct plural when referring to more than one species. But you're right. Unless you're talking to an ichthyologist or a youngster you probably won't hear the word. - KevinB, May 15, 2010

Interesting Kevin, I've never looked it up and evidently never talked to an icthyologist! - galsally, May 15, 2010

You need to get out more. - samdie, Jun 17, 2010

Answer 7

Can't quote any rule here but I thought it goes:

I fish

you fish

He, she, it fishes.

She's asking about the plural use of the noun. - --Mariana--, Jun 17, 2010

Answer 8

If I remember correctly "fishies" is properly used with a number of fish. I.e. We cooked 3 fishes for dinner. The American language tends to simplify a lot therefore we only use fish. On the other end I find it funny that if you show a can of tuna to people and ask them what it is they will say "it's tuna can", same for ravioli and they'll say "it's ravioli"...only works with tuna lol.

In your neck of the woods its 3 fishes? not just 3 fish? Hmmm. - LateToDinner, May 15, 2010

Let's remember that Americans don't speak English, we speak American and not alway respect English rules. - sfrenchie, May 15, 2010