How to Say "herd" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “herd” is “ganado” — use 'ganado' for livestock or any general group of farm animals being raised for produce or sale..
ganado
/gah-NAH-doh//ɡaˈnaðo/
Examples
El granjero vendió todo su ganado en la feria de primavera.
The farmer sold all his livestock at the spring fair.
Cuidar el ganado es un trabajo duro que requiere madrugar.
Taking care of the cattle is hard work that requires getting up early.
Always Singular
Even though 'ganado' refers to many animals, it is almost always treated as a singular masculine noun, similar to how English uses the word 'stock'.
Using the Feminine
Mistake: “La ganada...”
Correction: Always use the masculine article: 'El ganado.' It does not change gender.
manada
/mah-NAH-dah//maˈnaða/
Examples
Vimos una gran manada de elefantes cruzando la sabana.
We saw a large herd of elephants crossing the savanna.
La manada de lobos cazó un ciervo anoche.
The pack of wolves hunted a deer last night.
El león es el líder de la manada.
The lion is the leader of the pride/pack.
Feminine Noun
Since 'manada' ends in -a, it is always a feminine word. Use feminine articles and adjectives with it: 'una manada grande' (a big herd).
Verb Agreement
Mistake: “Las manadas están corriendo. (Using plural verb form)”
Correction: La manada está corriendo. (The word 'manada' is singular, so the verb must be singular, even if it refers to many animals.)
General vs. Specific Animal Groups
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