An Army of Frogs

 The traditional collective noun for a group of frogs is an army. This term is part of a broader collection of colorful and imaginative collective nouns in the English language, many of which date back to the Late Middle Ages. These group terms were often coined by hunters, writers, or poets to describe animals not with scientific precision but with flair, character, or humor.

Frogs are usually solitary creatures, but they do come together in large numbers during the breeding season, especially near water sources like ponds, marshes, or wetlands. When this happens, the sheer volume of frogs — often accompanied by loud croaking and energetic movement — can resemble an advancing force, which is likely how the term “army” came into being. Though not used in scientific writing, this term remains recognized in dictionaries and English language resources as the accepted collective noun for frogs.

This sort of naming isn’t unique to frogs. English has many such traditional collective nouns that are not based in biology but are instead steeped in creativity and convention. For example, you’ll find terms like a murder of crows, a parliament of owls, and a crash of rhinoceroses. These terms capture something vivid or behavioral about the animals — in the frog’s case, their sudden mass gatherings during rainy seasons or breeding times can seem like an amphibian invasion, hence the term “army.”

It’s important to note that while these terms are charming and memorable, scientific texts are more likely to refer to frogs in groups using neutral phrases like “a group,” “a population,” or “a breeding aggregation.” Still, “army” remains a beloved bit of English trivia, perfect for crossword puzzles, pub quizzes, and nature-themed games alike.