Some words always stump us when it comes to their plurals, and we are not sure if we should add the letter “s” to it like with most plurals or apply a different rule to that noun. One such word is “sheep,” so is it correct to say “sheeps” when we talk about more than one sheep or do we apply a different rule for plurals here?
It is not correct to say “sheeps.” The plural of “sheep” is “sheep.” We say “sheep,” whether it is one sheep, two sheep, or a million sheep! It is one of the many irregular plural nouns in English and does not follow the regular rules for plurals.
In the case of irregular plurals, the normal rules of pluralizing do not work. In addition, there are many different types of irregular plurals, including words like “sheep,” which we call base plurals. This means that we have to memorize those plurals.
We also need to know which article to use with such words depending on the context. Last but not least, we need to find out if we can use the word “sheeps” in any way. In this article, we’ll walk you through each of these items with examples.
What Is the Plural of “Sheep”?
Again, “sheep” is the plural of “sheep.” So we say “sheep” whether we are referring to one sheep, two sheep, or many sheep. It is one of many irregular plural nouns, a noun that becomes plural in a way other than adding -s or -es to the end.
Most irregular plurals are nouns that stem from older forms of English or from a foreign language.
Why Do We Not Say “Sheeps?”
One of the reasons why “sheep” is both the singular and plural form of the word lies in its origins, and the word “sheep” has a rich etymological history. It comes from the Old English word “scēap” related to the Old German “scāf.”
According to an article by Anatoly Liberman for the Oxford University Press, scēap or scēp was a neuter noun, and its plural ended in “u” (source).
However, over time and with frequent usage, the word lost its “u” ending, and the singular and plural forms merged, which is why we use “sheep” whether we refer to one or many.
For more on this, there is an interesting video on TEDEd entitled “A brief history of plural words” by John McWhorter that takes us on a brief history of plural words.
When Can We Use “Sheeps”?
There is not an acceptable use of “sheeps”. While “fishes” is a generally acceptable plural form to refer to different species of fish, and we might even see “deers” in American English, this does not seem to apply to “sheep” generally. For many species of sheep, we normally use the term “breeds of sheep” in preference to “sheeps.”
However, one grammar book published by De Gruyter Mouton entitled Meaning and Grammar: Cross-Linguistic Perspectives does mention the fundamental problems we face with mass nouns compared to count nouns (source).
They note that when we deal with mass nouns like “sheep,” “deer,” or “fish,” we will sometimes use plural forms like “sheeps,” “deers,” or “fishes” when referring to different kinds or species. However, while we can find dictionary entries for “deers” and “fishes,” we cannot find one for the noun “sheeps.”
Note that Merriam-Webster as of this date has an entry for “sheeps,” but it does not include any similar entry in the Learner’s Dictionary. In addition, this entry defines “sheeps” as a present-tense third-person singular, which would make it a verb, while the base word linked to it, “sheep,” is a noun (source).
In fact, the Webster’s Dictionary of 1828 refers to sheep as both a singular and plural noun and contains no entry for “sheeps” (source).
Also, while Grammarly will accept “deers” and “fishes,” it will always flag “sheeps” as incorrect.
So regarding the question, “When can you use sheeps?”
We recommend that you avoid using it as a plural for academic writing since no dictionary currently recognizes it.
- I saw 20 sheeps today. (incorrect)
- I saw 20 sheep today. (correct)
Do not use it as a verb.
- She sheeps. (incorrect, “sheep” is not a verb)
- She sleeps. (correct, “sleep” is a verb)
However, it is OK to use “sheeps” when quoting another text, as I have below. For example, you can find one archaic use of the word “sheeps” in Act 1, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing (source):
Is it not strange that sheeps’ guts should hale souls out of men’s bodies?
The Singular and Plural Possessive Form of Sheep: Sheep’s
“Sheep’s” is both the singular and plural possessive form of the noun “sheep,” referring to something of a single or multiple sheep. Check out the below examples to understand more about how other words help readers understand whether sheep is singular or plural in each case.
| Form | Sheep’s: Possessive Form of Sheep |
|---|---|
| Singular | This sheep’s fleece is white.“Sheep” is singular here because of the associated singular pronoun “this.” Note that the verb “is” refers to the “fleece” of a single “sheep.” |
| Plural | These sheep’s fleeces are black. “Sheep” is plural here because of the associated plural pronoun “these.” The verb “are” refers to the “fleeces” of the many sheep. |
| Plural | These sheep’s barn is enormous.Here, “sheep” is plural once again because of the associated plural pronoun “these.” In addition, the verb used is “is” here because it refers to the singular noun “barn.” |
Note that people often miss the apostrophe for the possessive “sheep’s,” resulting in the misspelled, incorrect word, “sheeps.” So, for example, you might see someone write “a wolf in sheeps clothing” instead of “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Read this article, “Todays or Today’s: Which Is Correct?” to learn more about using the apostrophe before the “s.”
“Sheep” and Other Irregular Plurals
Let us now have a brief look at the different irregular plurals with examples (source).
Base or Zero Plurals: These nouns have identical singular and plural forms. Many of these are animal names, like the featured word “sheep,” as well as the below.
- Deer
- Fish
- Squid
Some other base plural nouns are “aircraft,” “the blues” (as in music), “series,” and “species.”
Apophonic or Mutated Plurals: We form the plurals for these nouns by changing the vowel sound of the singular form. For example, words like “foot,” “tooth,” and “goose” become “feet,” “teeth,” and “geese” in their plural forms.
Other examples include “mouse” and “louse.” More than one mouse becomes “mice,” and more than one louse becomes “lice,” though I would rather not have even one of them around me. However, we cannot apply the same rules to words like “boot,” “booth,” “moose,” and “spouse”!
The -en Plurals: Three specific words become plurals by adding an “en” sound to the singular. These include “ox,” “child,” and “brother/sister,” which become “oxen,” “children,” and “brethren/sistren” (archaic use) in their plural form.
Other Irregulars: There are many other types of irregular plurals, and here are some examples (source):
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| cactus | cacti |
| datum | data |
| glasses | glasses |
| half | halves |
| jeans | jeans |
| larva | larvae |
| nucleus | nuclei |
| person | people |
| phenomenon | phenomena |
| tableau | tableaux |
| wife | wives |
You can even check out this interesting video that has a lot of sheep!
Can We Say “Many Sheep?”
Yes, we can say “many sheep” because “sheep” is a countable noun. Countable nouns refer to things we can count using numbers, like books, cakes, puppies, and sheep.
The question, “How many?” helps us know the quantity of a countable noun. We can also say “many” when we do not know the exact number of a countable thing.
On the other hand, uncountable nouns are those that we cannot quantify with a number, like air, rice, sugar, tea, and love. We use the question “How much?” to find out the quantity (not in numbers) of an uncountable noun.
For example, our article, “Food vs. Foods: What’s the Difference?” uses what we enjoy doing a lot — eating — to explain countable and uncountable nouns. Go ahead and read it, but make sure you have snacks handy as it might just make you hungry!
Examples:
- My little girl was very excited when she saw many sheep grazing in the field.
- My little girl had so much fun reading to the many dolls she received for her birthday.
Which Article Is Used for “Sheep?”
We can use either “a” or “the” for “sheep,” depending on the context. For example, we can say, “The sheep followed the shepherd.” In this case, “sheep” can be singular or plural. Maybe it is one specific sheep or a specific flock of sheep following the shepherd.
We can also say, “Mary saw a sheep following the shepherd.” This means that Mary saw any one of many sheep following the shepherd.
“A Sheep” or “An Sheep”: Which is Correct?
Since “sheep” begins with a consonant sound, “a sheep” is correct when referring to any particular sheep. The below examples will help you compare the correct and incorrect use of the indefinite article for “sheep.”
- I saw a sheep grazing in the field today. (correct)
- She saw an sheep crossing the road. (incorrect)
What About “The Sheep?”
We use “the” with nouns when the meaning is specific, that is, when the noun refers to one of a kind or a specific thing (source). For example, with “sheep,” we can use it for both the singular and plural forms of the word, and other helper words will explain the context.
Examples:
- “Shaun the Sheep” (title of a TV show)
- The sheep is hungry. (a specific sheep in context)
- Counting the sheep in the field may help you fall asleep. (a specific flock of sheep)
So we can use “a” when referring to a single sheep (any sheep in general, or one of many), and we can use “the” when referring to a specific sheep or a specific herd/flock of sheep.
Understanding the Basic Rules
It helps if we understand more about the articles themselves. English has two different articles: the indefinite article and the definite article.
The first one is the indefinite article that does not specify which one of anything we are talking about. This includes “a” and “an.”
Then we have the definite article, “the,” which indicates the writer is pointing to a specific thing or person.
Note that we can use “a” and “an” only before singular countable nouns, while we can use “the” before singular and plural countable nouns, as well as uncountable nouns (source).
Merriam-Webster states that choosing between the articles “a” and “an” depends upon the sound of the word following the article. Use “a” for words with consonant sounds and “an” for words with vowel sounds.
Here are some more examples to help illustrate this.
We use “a” with singular nouns beginning with a consonant sound: a horse, a sheep, a unicorn. Note that “unicorn begins with the “y” sound.
We use “an” with singular nouns beginning with a vowel sound: an ant, an honest man, an umbrella, an event. This article was written for strategiesforparents.com.
To understand more about indefinite articles, read “A Usual” or “An Usual”: Which Article Should You Use?”
Final Thoughts
With irregular plural nouns like “sheep,” unfortunately, there are no specific rules for pluralizing the words, so we simply need to memorize these words. Thankfully, there are not too many of them we use on a regular basis! In addition, most of them are unusual enough to make memorizing them a breeze.
As for today’s featured word, you only need to remember two things. First, “sheep” is the plural for “sheep,” and second, we do not use “sheeps” unless we are repeating other text verbatim or using the possessive form, with an apostrophe before the “s,” as in “sheep’s.”
Now that you have this information, you can impress others with your knowledge of base plurals and their histories too!
Last Update: Jan 03, 2023
This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!
Asked by: Monserrate Eichmann
Score: 4.1/5
(56 votes)
The plural of sheep is sheep. The farmer has six hundred sheep. A flock of sheep was grazing on the hill. 2 `lamb’ A lamb is a young sheep.
Why is sheep plural not sheeps?
The reason «sheep» doesn’t have a separate plural form is by chance. … In Middle English, the suffix -s was appended to nearly all nouns to form plurals. This phenomenon replaced the plural forms of Old English—e.g., Old English handa became hands in Middle English.
What is multiple sheep called?
A group of sheep is called a flock. A farmer’s flock can range from two sheep to over 1,500 ewes with their lambs.
What is the plural of octopus?
By now, it’s widely known that the technical correct plural usage for the word octopus is octopuses. But if we’re being honest, we’ve all indulged in the random octopi usage before.
Why is the plural of deer deer?
It is often remarked that all these nouns with invariant plurals denote animals, deer, sheep, fish, swine, which are either herded or hunted; and it has been suggested that both the ‘mass noun’ sense with herd animals and the custom of referring to all hunted animals in the singular (we hunt bear, lion, and elephant as …
41 related questions found
Is it correct to say fishes?
The plural of fish is usually fish. When referring to more than one species of fish, especially in a scientific context, you can use fishes as the plural. The zodiac sign Pisces is also often referred to as fishes.
Is it 2 Fox or 2 foxes?
The plural is foxes.
What is the plural form of Loaf?
noun. ˈlōf plural loaves ˈlōvz
What is plural of ox?
plural oxen ˈäk-sən also ox.
Can I say deers?
Deer is the preferred plural form of deer, a hoofed mammal. … Deers is an accepted plural, but it is rarely used. The word deer comes from the Old English word, deor, which means four-legged animal, beast. Also the Dutch word, dier and the German word, tier.
Is there such word as mouses?
In most cases, the plural of mouse is «mice,» but more than one computer mouse can also be called «mouses.» Mouse can also be a verb in this context, like when you mouse over an icon to select a link.
What is plural child?
Children is the plural form of the word child and is used to refer to a group of or many youngsters who are below the age of puberty.
What’s the plural of salmon?
noun. salm·on | ˈsa-mən plural salmon also salmons.
What is the plural of moose and deer?
Usage notes The usual plural of moose is moose; compare the names of many animals, such as deer and fish, which are also invariant. Other plurals are rare and non-standard: mooses (with the usual English plural-forming suffix -s) and meese (jocularly formed by analogy to goose → geese).
Can bears be plural?
noun, plural bears, (especially collectively) bear.
What is tooth plural?
1) Tooth is singular, teeth is plural.
What is a Meese?
Plural of moose, by analogy with goose → geese.
What is the plural of elk?
noun, plural elks, (especially collectively) elk for 1, 2. Also called European elk. the moose, Alces alces. Also called American elk, wapiti.
Is Moose a plural?
The only correct plural of moose is moose. … Moose derives from Algonquian, a Native American language. It kept the same plural ending it had in its original language instead of adopting the normal S ending of most English plurals.
What is the plural of platypus?
However, given that “platypodes” has for some unfathomable reason never become popular, the dictionary goes on to say that the accepted plural is “platypuses” or (particularly in scientific and conservation contexts) “platypus”.
What is the plural of leaf?
noun, often attributive. ˈlēf plural leaves ˈlēvz also leafs ˈlēfs
Why is the plural of moose not Meese?
Inevitably, people want to know why, then, the plural of «moose» is not «meese». … This is because, unlike «goose», the word «moose» did not exist in early Anglo-Saxon times, so it couldn’t undergo i-mutation. «Moose» was borrowed from Eastern Abenaki in the 1600s.
What Is the Definition of the Word Sheep?
As phrased by the Merriam Webster dictionary sheep is defined as:
- Any of various hollow-horned typically gregarious ruminant mammals (genus Ovis) related to the goats but stockier and lacking a beard in the male from the family bovidae
- Specifically: one (O. aries) long domesticated especially for its flesh and wool
- A timid defenseless creature
- A timid docile person
- Especially: one easily influenced or led
- Leather prepared from the skins of sheep
What Is the Plural Form of Sheep?
Like as it is with fish or deer, sheep is the plural form of the singular noun sheep as a collective noun. There is an argument to be had that you can also say sheeps strictly when used for biology and discussing different types of biologically different sheep however this is not commonly seen like it is with fishes. Also, there are few cases in the literary past where the irregular plural form sheeps has been used, one by William Shakespeare, however, this also doesn’t mean it is technically the regular plural form of the word sheep.
The History and Origin of the Word
The noun sheep has been used in the English language since at least the 12th century. It comes from Middle English or Old English sceap which is similar to the Old German schaf, which both had the same meaning as our modern English word sheep.
Synonyms for Sheep
- Angel – a spiritual being superior to humans in power and intelligence
- Dove – a gentle woman or child, one who takes a conciliatory attitude and advocates negotiations and compromise
- Innocent – free from legal guilt or fault, free from guilt or sin especially through lack of knowledge of evil
- Lamb – a young domestic sheep, especially: one that is less than one year old or without permanent teeth or a gentle or weak person
Antonyms for Sheep
- Wolf – a man given to seducing women, a person who habitually preys upon a flock of sheep
- Bully – a person who teases, threatens, or hurts smaller, weaker, or more vulnerable persons
- Roughneck – a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
- Rowdy – a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
- Tough – not easily chewed
- Beast – a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
- Boor – a person whose behavior is offensive to others
- Cad – a person whose behavior is offensive to others
- Churl – an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country
- Clown – a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior
- Creep – a person whose behavior is offensive to others
Examples of the Word in Context
Five miles south on Pleasants Valley Road, Alexis Koefoed and her husband Eric grow lavender and olives and raise chickens, sheep, goats and cattle at Soul Food Farm.
— Esther Mobley, SFChronicle.com, “Wildfires tear through small Vacaville farms, leaving trail of singed lavender fields,” 21 Aug. 2020
The job of such a canine is to bring sheep, geese, ducks or cattle toward a person or to a certain area of the farm while keeping them all together as a group.
— Patrick Connolly, orlandosentinel.com, “Work Like a Dog Day: Meet Orlando’s working dogs,” 5 Aug. 2020
Saudi Arabia imports over 3 million heads of goats, sheep, cattle, and camels during the Hajj season, according to a 2019 report by the Veterinary Medicine and Science.
— Abdullahi Yussuf, Quartz Africa, “Somalia will lose $500 million this year as its livestock misses out on Hajj to Saudi Arabia,” 28 July 2020
Black Cat Farm encompasses a grain mill, hundreds of pigs and sheep, and some 50 acres of vegetables and herbs.
— Josie Sexton, The Denver Post, “Community raises more than $212,000 for Boulder family who lost son in devastating weekend crash,” 28 July 2020
Cattle, deer, sheep, camels and giraffes, among others, are all ruminant mammals.
— Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, “Siberian Hunters Cooked in ‘Hot Pots’ at the End of the Last Ice Age,” 7 Feb. 2020
Grand Teton, along with Yellowstone National Park just north, is among the busier U.S. national parks but the Teton Range inhabited by the goats and sheep has few roads and is mostly accessible only by hiking and climbing.
— Mead Gruver, Star Tribune, “Grand Teton seeks goat cull help after canceled air shoot,” 6 Aug. 2020
The four-day event started July 29, with three days of youths showing livestock such as poultry, swine, cattle, goats, sheep and rabbits, followed by the sale Saturday.
— David Anderson, baltimoresun.com, “Harford youths get record-breaking support at livestock sale with nearly $339,000 raised from buyers,” 4 Aug. 2020
But this year, Somalia’s goats and sheep will not join the pilgrimage because Hajj has effectively been cancelled by Saudi authorities due to the Covid-19 pandemic—only a limited number of locals are allowed to attend Hajj.
— Abdullahi Yussuf, Quartz Africa, “Somalia will lose $500 million this year as its livestock misses out on Hajj to Saudi Arabia,” 28 July 2020
Summary
Hopefully, you know are very well versed in all things about the word sheep and how to use the correct plural form in English grammar.
Sources:
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheep
- https://www.startribune.com/grand-teton-seeks-goat-cull-help-after-canceled-air-shoot/572030212/
- https://qz.com/africa/1885939/somalias-goats-sheep-wont-be-on-hajj-to-saudi-arabia-on-covid/
- https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-livestock-auction-results-20200804-wjsdgojcqbbz3nvd54h4zf5yru-story.html
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-siberian-hunters-cooked-hot-pots-end-last-ice-age-180974148/
- https://www.denverpost.com/2020/07/28/kelsey-skokan-boulder-death-donate/
- https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/os-et-work-like-a-dog-day-orlando-working-dogs-20200805-dizganugebdabnjgnxpwknkkqa-story.html
- https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/Wildfires-tear-through-small-Vacaville-farms-15505090.php
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do’s and don’ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Complete answer: The plural form of the word “sheep” is sheep only.
Why is plural of sheep not sheeps?
I have found different explanations, such as, “it is because they were seen as uncountable, as in ‘a herd of sheep’”, “because it comes from German, which does not have the plural ‘s’” and that it is because it is a neutral Old English noun which does not change in the plural.
What do you call 2 sheep?
The answer is that they all – usually – use the same word whether they are in the singular or the plural. If you have one sheep and then you acquire a second sheep, you now have two sheep, not two “sheeps”.
What is 1 sheep called?
Use of the word sheep began in Middle English as a derivation of the Old English word scēap; it is both the singular and plural name for the animal. A group of sheep is called a flock.
What do we call a female sheep?
Ewes are mature adult female sheep. Ewes are used for breeding and for wool production. Rams are adult male sheep kept for breeding and for wool production. Rams may or may not have horns.
What is a boy sheep called?
rams
What is a female tiger called?
Tigress
What do we call a female elephant?
cow
What is a female snake called?
Snakes are known simply as “males” or “females,” with no name distinction between them based on gender. Young snakes, however, do have separate designations of “snakelet” for a baby, “neonate” for a newly-born offspring or “hatchling” for a newly-hatched snake.
What’s the opposite of Tiger?
What are the antonyms for TIGER? reed, weakling, softy, wimp, milquetoast, pushover.
Is a Tiger female?
Though male and female tigers exhibit many of the same behaviors, there are behaviors that are unique to males or females. Males roam larger territories than females. Male tigers do not help raise their cubs. If a wild tiger is seen with a cub in tow, it is almost certainly a female
What is the opposite word of dog?
What is the opposite of dog?
| abandon | leave |
|---|---|
| abort | end |
| forgo | relinquish |
| scrap | leave alone |
| let go |
What’s another word for tiger?
In this page you can discover 32 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for tiger, like: tigress, lynx, panthera-tigris, cat, feline, ghoul, jaguar, leopard, tiger cat, kind and carnivore.
What does Tiger symbolize?
As a spirit animal, the meaning for the tiger is said to be willpower, courage, and personal strength. Some recognize tigers and dragons as powerful symbols representing the balanced forces of yin and yang. The Chinese god of wealth, Tsai Shen Yeh, is often shown sitting on top of a tiger to emphasize his power.
What is the scientific name for Tiger?
Panthera tigris
What is Tiger slang for?
an excessively eager person. Whoa, tiger!
What is a good name for a male tiger?
Male Names
| Ninja | Woody | Bone |
|---|---|---|
| Saber | Kimono | Kip |
| Kato | Rocky | Ozzy |
| Sanchez | Bob | Wilson |
| Bruce | Timber | Felix |
What does it mean to be a tiger in bed?
“The sack” means “bed”. So by saying “She is/was a tiger in the sack.” means that she is wild like an animal when she has sex
What does it mean to be called a lion?
2a : a person felt to resemble a lion (as in courage or ferocity) b : a person of outstanding interest or importance a literary lion. 3 capitalized [Lions (club)] : a member of a major national and international service club.
What do 2 lions in front of house mean?
In Quebec, homeowners traditionally place one or two lions in front of their house once their mortgage is paid off. Whether placed in front of a door or by a staircase, the lion remains true to itself as a symbol of honour, respect, and power, and can even be seen in popular buildings in Paris and New York
What country is the lion a symbol of?
The United Kingdom also claims the real lion as a national symbol thanks to England. Other countries that also revere and identify with this bold animal include Luxembourg, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Singapore, and Sri Lanka
Is the lion a symbol of God?
Lions are symbols of courage and power which are imperative that Christians should have when it relates to God. Lions are also a symbol of royalty and many Christians believe that God is the highest of all royalty
What are the 4 Faces of God?
In Ezekiel 1:5–11 they are described as having the likeness of a man, and having four faces: that of a man, a lion (on the right side), and ox (on the left side), and an eagle.
What is the Lion of God?
Ariel (Hebrew: אֲרִיאֵל, romanized: ʾÁrīʾēl) is an angel found primarily in Jewish and Christian mysticism and Apocrypha. The literal meaning is “lion of God”. The word Ariel occurs in the Hebrew Bible at Isaiah 29:1, 29:2, and 29:7, where it refers to Jerusalem.
Why is Jesus the lion and the lamb?
The symbol is used in both Christianity and Judaism to represent the Messianic Age. In addition, in Christianity, according to a sermon by Augustine, the lion stands for Christ resurrected, the lamb for Christ’s sacrifice (“He endured death as a lamb; he devoured it as a lion.”—Augustine, Sermon 375A).
What does it mean that Jesus is the Lamb of God?
“To be called a Lamb of God means that God gave Jesus to be killed like a lamb for our sins so we could live forever.” For hundreds of years, Jews brought lambs to the temple as sacrifices for their sins. They kept coming back year after year because no lamb could take away all their sin
Why is Jesus called the Lamb?
This is a reference to the imagery in the Book of Revelation 5:1–13, ff. Occasionally, the lamb may be depicted bleeding from the area of the heart (Cf. Revelation 5:6), symbolizing Jesus’ shedding of his blood to take away the sins of the world (Cf.
What tribe is Jesus from?
tribe of Judah
овца, баран, овчина, паства, овечья шкура, робкий человек, застенчивый человек
существительное ↓
- зоол. овца (Ovis)
bighorn sheep — снежный баран (Ovis canadensis) 
Pamir sheep — памирский архар (Ovis ammon polii)
- с.-х. овца, баран
sheep in fleece — неостриженная овца
sheep in lamb — суягная овца
breeding [dairy, mutton] sheep — племенная [молочная, мясная] овца
entire male sheep — некастрированный баран
flock of sheep — стадо /отара/ овец
stray sheep — овца, отбившаяся от стада /от отары/
- робкий, застенчивый человек
- ограниченный, безвольный человек
to follow like sheep — идти (за кем-л.) как баран; слепо повиноваться
- шотл. унив. жарг. второкурсник
- выделанная баранья кожа; овчина
- церк. паства
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
cheese made from sheep’s milk — сыр из овечьего молока
a dog that was molesting sheep — собака, которая нападала на овец
sheep breeder — овцевод
sheep farm — овцеферма
to tend a flock of sheep — пасти стадо овец
a flock / herd of sheep — стадо овец
sheep baa / bleat — овцы блеют
a wolf in sheep’s clothing — волк в овечьей шкуре
breeder sheep — племенная овца
cheviot sheep — овца породы «шевиот»
dairy sheep — молочная овца
sheep-dog — овчарка
Примеры с переводом
A young sheep is a lamb.
Детёныш овцы называется ягнёнком.
The meat of the sheep is mutton.
Мясо овцы — баранина.
Sheep are tended by a shepherd.
Овец пасёт пастух.
‘Sheep’ remains the same in the plural.
Слово «овца» (в английском языке) остается неизменным во множественном числе.
These dogs were originally bred in Scotland to round up sheep.
Этих собак первоначально разводили в Шотландии для выгона овец. (чтобы они помогали пасти овец)
People can clone a sheep nowadays.
Сегодня люди умеют клонировать овец.
Sheep are usually fleeced in summer.
Овец обычно стригут летом.
ещё 23 примера свернуть
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
…he came to see that the members of the cult were sheep who naively went along with whatever their leader dictated… 
A local sheep farmer has a booth at the county fair and is selling wool yarn.
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
Возможные однокоренные слова
sheepish — глуповатый, робкий, застенчивый
Формы слова
noun
ед. ч.(singular): sheep
мн. ч.(plural): sheep