I found a poster of collective nouns for supernatural and mythical sorts of creatures, though some are real now. It was supposedly from Wondermark, with David Malki as the only person’s name on it, without clear indication as to how he is associated with it all. However, I needed the information in text, and in a table, not a small graphic. So with a little formulaic help from Excel, I typed out a minimal amount of text and let Excel create the rest for me.
Below is a table of supernatural collective nouns, in text and alphabetical order for all the creatures, unlike the poster that grouped them so you’d have to know in which group something belonged to find it properly. It’s just easier in pure alphabetical order for them all.
There are some pretty cool collective nouns in this group, btw! My top 3 are:
- An audacity of gargoyles
- A supremacy of dinosaurs (a term you can use quite often)
- An eminence of centaurs.
What are your favourites?
Anything I missed?
CREATURE | COLLECTIVE NOUN | EXAMPLE |
AIs (artificial intelligence) | Nervousness | A nervousness of AIs (artificial intelligence). |
Aliens | Pension | A pension of aliens. |
Androids | Yard-sale | A yard-sale of androids. |
Angels | Host | A host of angels. |
Apparitions | Academy | An academy of apparitions. |
Archangels | Archhost | An archhost of archangels. |
Automatons | Bank | A bank of automatons. |
Baba Yagas | Solace | A solace of Baba Yagas. |
Banshees | Racket | A racket of banshees. |
Basilisks | Tackle | A tackle of basilisks. |
Behemoths | Spectacle | A spectacle of behemoths. |
Bigfeet | Reminance | A reminance of Bigfeet. |
Bogeymen | Scamper | A scamper of bogeymen. |
Borg | — | The Borg. |
Brownnies | Hustle | A hustle of brownnies. |
Bugbears | Prominence | A prominence of bugbears. |
Bunyips | Bedevilment | A bedevilment of bunyips. |
Centaurs | Eminence | An eminence of centaurs. |
Cherubim | Compass | A compass of cherubim. |
Chimerae | Braid | A braid of chimerae. |
Chupacabra | Clubbing | A clubbing of chupacabra. |
Clones | Clamor | A clamor of clones. |
Cockatrices | Cabal | A cabal of cockatrices. |
Cyborgs | Skynet | A skynet of cyborgs. |
Cyclopes | Doubting | A doubting of cyclopes. |
Demigods | Semitheon | A semitheon of demigods. |
Demons | Legion | A legion of demons. |
Devils | Bombast | A bombast of devils. |
Dhampirs | Prominence | A prominence of dhampirs. |
Dinosaurs | Supremacy | A supremacy of dinosaurs. |
Djinns | Chimney | A chimney of djinns. |
Dragons | Dignity | A dignity of dragons. |
Drones | Squadron | A squadron of drones. |
Dryads | Brace | A brace of dryads. |
Dwarves | Knot | A knot of dwarves. |
Elves | Drove | A drove of elves. |
Fairies | Tizzy | A tizzy of fairies. |
Fauns | Lodge | A lodge of fauns. |
Frankenstein’s monsters | Duty | A Duty of Frankenstein’s monsters. |
Gargoyles | Audacity | An audacity of gargoyles. |
Geniuses | Quiver | A quiver of geniuses. |
Ghosts | Congress | A congress of ghosts. |
Ghouls | Shroud | A shroud of ghouls. |
Giants | Percussion | A percussion of giants. |
Gnomes | Lawn | A lawn of gnomes. |
Goblins | Malignity | A malignity of goblins. |
Gods | Pantheon | A pantheon of gods. |
Golems | Craving | A craving of golems. |
Gorgons | Tangle | A tangle of Gorgons. |
Gremlins | Devilry | A devilry of gremlins. |
Griffins | Senate | A senate of griffins. |
Harpies | Clamor | A clamor of harpies. |
Hippogriffs | Fulsome | A fulsome of hippogriffs. |
Hobgoblins | Rally | A rally of hobgoblins. |
Homunculi | Harmony | A harmony of homunculi. |
Hydra | Warfare | A warfare of hydra. |
Ifrits | Storm | A storm of ifrits. |
Incubi | Party | A party of incubi. |
Jedi | Jake | A jake of Jedi. |
Jersey devils | Assault | An assault of Jersey devils. |
Kobolds | Ruin | A ruin of kobolds. |
Leprechauns | Indulgence | An indulgence of leprechauns. |
Leviathans | Continent | A continent of leviathans. |
Mad Scientists | Cackle | A cackle of mad scientists. |
Mandrakes | Honor | A honor of mandrakes. |
Manticores | Dastardly | A dastardly of manticores. |
Martyrs | Baleful | A baleful of martyrs. |
Mermaids | Gossip | A gossip of mermaids. |
Messiahs | Rapture | A rapture of messiahs. |
Minotaurs | Snarl | A snarl of minotaurs. |
Mole men | Bureau | A bureau of mole men. |
Morlocks | Lamentation | A lamentation of Morlocks. |
Mummies | Liberty | A liberty of mummies. |
Murderers | Band | A band of murderers. |
Mutants | Caper | A caper of mutants. |
Naiads | Swell | A swell of naiads. |
Nanites | Swarm | A swarm of nanites. |
Nephilim | Tromp | A tromp of Nephilim. |
Nessies | Prize | A prize of nessies. |
Nymphs | Delectation | A delectation of nymphs. |
Ogres | Torment | A torment of ogres. |
Orcs | Rage | A rage of orcs. |
Phantoms | Rumpus | A rumpus of phantoms. |
Phoenices | Conservatory | A conservatory of phoenices. |
Pixies | Pleasure | A pleasure of pixies. |
Poltergeist | Blanket | A blanket of poltergeist. |
Possessed | Murmur | A murmur of the possessed. |
Prawns | District | A district of prawns. |
Predators | Tournament | A tournament of Predators. |
Probes | Fleet | A fleet of probes. |
Prophets | Persuasion | A persuasion of prophets. |
Psychopaths | Sling | A sling of psychopaths. |
Reapers | Rustle | A rustle of reapers. |
Revenants | Depravity | A depravity of revenants. |
Robots | Clangor | A clangor of robots. |
Santa Claus | Sleight | A sleight of Santa Claus. |
Sasquatches | Yearning | A yearning of sasquatches. |
Seraphim | Glory | A glory of seraphim. |
Serial killers | Choir | A choir of serial killers. |
Sexbots | Harem | A harem of sexbots. |
Shamans | Caucus | A caucus of shamans. |
Skeletons | Drudge | A drudge of skeletons. |
Sphinxes | Finery | A finery of sphinxes. |
Spirits | Penumbra | A penumbra of spirits. |
Spooks | Mystery | A mystery of spooks. |
Sprites | Resolution | A resolution of sprites. |
Succubi | Opulence | An opulence of succubi. |
Superheroes | League | A league of superheroes. |
Terrorists | Cell | A cell of terrorists. |
Titans | Majesty | A majesty of Titans. |
Trolls | Malevolence | A malevolence of trolls. |
Unicorns | Blessing | A blessing of unicorns. |
Valkyries | Cavalry | A cavalry of valkyries. |
Vampires | Basement | A basement of vampires. |
Villains | Industry | An industry of villains. |
Viruses | Culture | A culture of viruses. |
Warlocks | Coventry | A coventry of warlocks. |
Wendigoes | Exigency | An exigency of wendigoes. |
Werewolves | Lunacy | A lunacy of werewolves. |
Witches | Coven | A coven of witches. |
Wizards | Fellowship | A fellowship of wizards. |
Wraiths | Degradation | A degradation of wraiths. |
Wyverns | Poachment | A poachment of wyverns. |
Yahwehs | Itself | An Itself of yahwehs. |
Yeti | Flurry | A flurry of yeti. |
Zombies | Vexation | A vexation of zombies. |
This will help develop fluency in English for we that use English as a second language
I hope so! 🙂
a nobility of pegasi
Thanks!
a nobility of pegasi
I don’t know how correct these are; a group of unicorns is a blessing, not a fondle.
Thanks for catching that error! I have fixed it. Don’t let one seed of doubt cast a shadow on it all, though! 🙂
Your favorite is “an emancipation of centaurs”, but in text you said “an eminence of centaurs”.
I was here because I wanted to know the collective noun for imps. I might use the word from demons, “legion”. Although I’m tempted of using “centuria” which would be 100, and it’s a subdivision of the Roman legion.
Thanks for spotting that error! It is “eminence”… although “emancipation would have sounded cooler. I can’t find anything online for the collective noun for “imps”. But if you do, please let me know! Using the collective noun for demons seems good to me. Close enough! 🙂
I’ll be sure to do that. And since I’m here, I spotted another thing, because I checked after reading the comments.. You said that you corrected the collective noun for unicorns, but you only corrected in column 3. In 2 it still says fondle.
Unicorns Fondle A blessing of unicorns.
This is a wonderful resource and I bookmarked the page. I will flaunt my fine knowledge of supernatural species in my books 🙂
Ugh! Me and details! Thank you AGAIN! I have fixed it properly now. If you find any other mistakes or have any additions, please let me know! Thanks for letting me know about the errors and that this was useful to you.
Minh
Oh, and if you ever share those books, please let me know. I’d love to have a look (and read). 🙂
I’d try one of these:
An affliction of imps
A mischief of imps
An abjection of imps
I read in the book series of Eragon, that a grouping of dragons is called a Thunder. As in, A Thunder of dragons. On account of what it sounds like when they are all flying together. 🙂 I’ve always loved that!!
This is a pretty sound rationale, I must say, sort of pun intended since I realized it as I wrote it. 🙂
Except for “official” capacities, like tests or other situations where there is something at stake, or really common creatures where it might seem one doesn’t know the common correct word, I would encourage people to use their preferred collective nouns. As well, I would encourage people to find things there haven’t yet been an official collective noun for, and invent one! Then post online somewhere. You never know when it might catch on, or if it does later, you can prove you were the first! Thank you for sharing.
Minh
You’ve got “Shamans” and “Caucus” reversed. It should be a caucus of shamans. I’ve never heard of a supernatural creature called a Caucu. I almost got tricked into searching the web.
I love this resource. Thank you for making it. Though I’m not sure I’d use most of these examples, it makes for a wonderful starting point.
I think the only case I really don’t like is the baleful of martyrs. I’d go with a mass of martyrs for the layers of the word mass. By which, I mean its current religious use, the origin of that use, the lay use of a mass as a large body, and the medical use as a thing to be excised. Plus, baleful means either malign or miserable. Martyrs are neither.
Thanks for the error correction! I have fixed it!
I prefer the collective noun “kiss” for vampires; a kiss of vampires. It’s an alternative option.
Thanks! I didn’t know. I was on vacation so sorry for the late comment approval and reply.