fish

USAGE SUMMARY

'fish' is a perfectly acceptable and usable word in written English.
You can use it as a noun or a verb. For example: My family loves to go fishing during the summer months.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The expansion of no-fishing zones across the Great Barrier Reef has allowed fish numbers to rebound in some places to levels not seen since European arrival in Australia, a long-term study of the ecosystem has shown.

The Guardian

'It was like a fish to water,' Carol says.

The Guardian - Film

Mapusa This town has a daily market full of fruit, veg, fish, bread, flowers, spices, clothes, street food and home goods.

The Guardian - Travel

We ate fish kebabs with coconut salsa, giant prawns, palm heart souffles, melting sorbets and wonderful cardamom ice cream.

The Guardian - Travel

It's all about inspiring people to cook fish: as Van Olphsen says, "It's very easy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The ship was carrying 1,150 tonnes of fish, but had only 50 tonnes of fuel, Velmeskin said.

The Guardian

Jezebel, the popular women's website, has posted a story, describing in lingering detail, the much-feared-but-never-spoken-of experience of forgetting to remove a tampon (after 10 days it smelled of "rotting fish meets sewage meets Black Death").

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For food, the Coast Café above the Ogaan shop at the eastern end of Back Lane serves good fish curry with kokum (the dried peel of a tamarind-like fruit), malabar parathas (stuffed, spicy flatbreads) and zingy fish tacos.

The Guardian - Travel

Peperstraat 23-25, [phone], restaurantgreetje.nl, mains around €25. Open Tues-Fri, Sun 6pm-10pm, Sat 6pm-11pm Off the beaten track, this fish restaurant is something of an Amsterdam institution, despite its location by an out-of-town roundabout, next to the RAI convention centre.

The Guardian - Travel

Go for the selection of fried fish, the surtido, in small, medium, or large.

The Guardian - Travel

Meat is available, but it's fish and seafood tapas, hot and cold, that this place is famed for, and tortillitas de camarones (shrimp fritters) above all.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the plural of "fish", use "fish" when referring to multiple individuals of the same species. Use "fishes" when referring to multiple species.

Common error

Avoid using "fishes" when referring to multiple individuals of the same species. For instance, say 'I saw many "fish" in the pond' rather than 'I saw many fishes in the pond'.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fish" is a noun, referring to a cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate. It can also function as a verb, meaning to catch "fish". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the word is perfectly acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Travel

30%

Lifestyle

20%

Less common in

Books

5%

Money

5%

Arts

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fish" is a versatile word that functions primarily as a noun and verb. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. As a noun, it denotes a cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate; as a verb, it describes the action of catching them. The word is very common, particularly in News & Media, Travel and Lifestyle contexts. When pluralizing, remember that "fish" is generally used for multiple individuals of the same species, while "fishes" indicates multiple species. The examples from Ludwig underscore the diverse applications of "fish" across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

freshwater fish

Specifically indicates "fish" living in freshwater environments.

saltwater fish

Specifically indicates "fish" living in saltwater environments.

seafood

Refers to "fish" when it's being used as food from the sea.

aquatic animal

Replaces "fish" with a broader term encompassing various water-dwelling creatures.

marine creature

Specifically refers to creatures living in the sea, which is a subset of where "fish" live.

sea life

General term for organisms inhabiting the ocean, substituting the specific noun.

catch

Refers to "fish" when used as the result of fishing.

school of fish

Specifies a group of "fish", adding a collective noun.

Pisces

The scientific classification or astrological term, providing a formal alternative.

angler

Focuses on the act of catching "fish" rather than the "fish" themselves.

FAQs

What is the plural of "fish"?

The plural of "fish" is usually "fish", especially when referring to multiple individuals of the same species. "Fishes" is used when referring to multiple species of fish.

How can I use "fish" in a sentence?

You can use "fish" as a noun, like 'I caught a big "fish"', or as a verb, like 'I like to "fish" in the river'.

What does it mean to "fish" for compliments?

To "fish" for compliments means to try and get people to say nice things about you, often indirectly.

What are some examples of different kinds of "fish"?

Examples of different kinds of "fish" include salmon, trout, tuna, and cod.