The word species can be tricky because it looks the same in both singular and plural forms. Many English learners wonder — should we say species or specieses? Don’t worry! This short and clear guide will show you the correct plural of species, how it works in sentences, and common mistakes to avoid.
Definition and Plural of Species
What Does “Species” Mean?
The word species refers to a group of living things that share common characteristics and can reproduce with each other. It’s widely used in biology, zoology, and environmental science.
Definition:
👉 Species = a group of plants or animals that are similar and can produce offspring together.
Examples:
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The tiger is an endangered species.
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Scientists discovered three new species of fish.
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Humans belong to the species Homo sapiens.
What Is the Plural of “Species”?
Here’s the interesting part:
✅ The plural of “species” is also “species.”
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| species | species |
It doesn’t change!
That means species can refer to one kind or many kinds depending on the sentence.
Examples:
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Singular: The panda is a rare species.
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Plural: Many species are disappearing due to climate change.
How to Tell If “Species” Is Singular or Plural
Since the spelling is the same, you can tell by looking at the verb that follows it:
| Usage | Example |
|---|---|
| Singular | This species is found only in Africa. |
| Plural | These species are native to South America. |
Pronunciation Guide
| Word | IPA Pronunciation | How It Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| species | /ˈspiː.ʃiːz/ | “SPEE-sheez” |
Examples in Sentences
Singular: “Species”
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The blue whale is the largest species on Earth.
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This species of bird migrates every winter.
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The scientist studied one species of coral reef fish.
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A new species was discovered in the rainforest.
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Each species has unique adaptations for survival.
Plural: “Species”
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Many species are threatened by habitat loss.
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The forest is home to over 100 species of birds.
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Some species have gone extinct in recent years.
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Researchers observed how different species interact.
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Several new species were added to the database.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with species (use singular or plural forms).
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The giant panda is a rare ______.
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Several new ______ were discovered in the ocean.
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This ______ is found only in tropical forests.
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Many bird ______ migrate during winter.
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The scientist named the new ______ after her mentor.
Answer:
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species
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species
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species
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species
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species
Exercise 2: Choose the correct sentence.
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a) These species are endangered. ✅
b) These specieses are endangered. -
a) This species is unique to Madagascar. ✅
b) This species are unique to Madagascar. -
a) Scientists found ten new species. ✅
b) Scientists found ten new specie. -
a) One species of frog glows in the dark. ✅
b) One specieses of frog glows in the dark. -
a) Several species have adapted to urban life. ✅
b) Several specie have adapted to urban life.