Collective Nouns · Mammals · Animal Facts

What Is a Group of Pigs Called?

All Collective Nouns, Explained

From a “drift” of pigs to a “sounder” of wild hogs, this guide explores the collective nouns associated with pigs, along with fascinating facts about their behavior, habitat, lifespan, and social lives.

8 Min Read Mammals Updated June 2026

🐾 QUICK ANSWER

A group of pigs is most commonly called a drift of pigs.

The phrase “a drift of pigs” is the traditional collective noun for multiple pigs. Wild pigs are often called a sounder of pigs, while older sources may also use terms such as team, passel, or drove of pigs.

Primary noun: drift of pigs

Neutral wording: group of pigs

Animal type: pig / swine

Scientific genus: Sus

In This Article..

What Is the Collective Noun for Pigs?

A group of pigs can be called:

Collective Noun	Usage
Drift	Most common general term
Sounder	Wild and feral pigs
Team	Traditional collective noun
Passel	Informal group
Drove	Pigs being moved from place to place

While “drift of pigs” is the traditional answer, wildlife experts frequently refer to groups of wild pigs as a sounder.

Why Is It Called a Drift of Pigs?

The origin isn’t completely certain, but many animal collective nouns originated hundreds of years ago when colorful group names became popular among hunters, nobles, and writers.

The word “drift” may refer to the way pigs slowly move together while searching for food. Rather than traveling in orderly formations, pigs often wander and drift across fields, forests, and pastures as a group.

Cartoon illustration of pigs wearing oversized stereo speakers in a forest while a wildlife ranger says, "No, not that kind of sounder." — *A sounder of pigs… just not the kind the ranger was expecting.*

What Is a Sounder of Pigs?

A sounder is the name most commonly used for a family group of wild pigs.

A sounder usually consists of:

Adult females (sows)
Their piglets
Young pigs

Adult males, known as boars, often live alone and join sounders only during breeding season.

About Pigs

Pigs are intelligent mammals belonging to the family Suidae. They are found on every continent except Antarctica and have been domesticated by humans for thousands of years.

Domestic pigs are raised for food production, while wild pigs and feral hogs inhabit forests, grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural areas around the world.

Pig Lifespan

The lifespan of a pig depends on whether it is wild or domesticated.

Domestic pigs: 12-20 years
Pot-bellied pigs: 15-20 years
Wild pigs: 4-10 years

Wild pigs generally live shorter lives due to predators, disease, hunting, and environmental pressures.

Pig Reproduction and Piglets

Female pigs are called sows, while males are called boars.

Interesting facts about pig reproduction:

Pregnancy lasts about 114 days.
A litter commonly contains 6-12 piglets.
Piglets can stand and walk within hours of birth.
Mothers are highly protective of their young.

Piglets stay close to their mothers and learn feeding and survival behaviors from the rest of the sounder.

Where Do Pigs Live?

Pigs are highly adaptable animals and can thrive in many environments.

Habitats include:

Forests
Grasslands
Wetlands
Farmland
Swamps
Agricultural areas

Wild pigs often create shallow muddy depressions called wallows, which help cool their bodies and protect them from insects.

Fun Facts About Pigs

Whether they’re part of a drift, a sounder, or simply rooting around in the mud, pigs are fascinating animals. Their intelligence, social behavior, and surprising physical abilities have made them one of the most successful mammals in the world.

Pigs Are Smarter Than Many People Realize

Studies have shown pigs can solve puzzles, learn routines, and remember solutions for long periods.

Pigs Cannot Sweat Efficiently

Despite the expression “sweating like a pig,” pigs have very few functional sweat glands and rely on mud wallows to stay cool.

Piglets Recognize Their Mother’s Voice

Newborn piglets can identify and respond to their mother’s calls within days of birth.

Wild Boars Can Run Surprisingly Fast

Adult wild pigs can reach speeds of around 30 miles per hour over short distances.

Pigs Have Excellent Noses

Their sense of smell is so powerful that they have been trained to locate underground truffles.

Whether called a drift or a sounder, pigs generally prefer living in groups and develop social relationships within their family units.

Cartoon illustration of a football team made entirely of pigs gathered in a huddle while the quarterback says, "Okay team, let's bring home the bacon." — *A team of pigs preparing for the biggest game of the season.*

Frequently Asked Questions

From drifts and sounders to piglets and boars, pigs have plenty of interesting terminology associated with them. Here are answers to some of the questions readers ask most often.

What is a baby pig called?

A baby pig is called a piglet.

What is a female pig called?

An adult female pig is called a sow.

What is a male pig called?

An adult male pig is called a boar.

How many piglets can a sow have?

A sow commonly gives birth to between 6 and 12 piglets in a litter.

How intelligent are pigs?

Pigs are considered among the most intelligent domesticated animals. They can solve puzzles, learn routines, recognize individuals, and remember information for long periods.

Can pigs really find truffles?

Yes, pigs have an exceptional sense of smell and have historically been used to locate valuable truffles hidden underground.

Quick Quiz – Are You as Smart as a Pig?

Quick Quiz: What is the most common collective noun for a group of pigs?

Sounder
Team
Drift
Passel

Quick Quiz: What collective noun is most often used for wild pigs?

Drift
Drove
Sounder
Troop

Quick Quiz: What is a baby pig called?

Calf
Piglet
Foal
Kid

From Drifts to Sounders

Whether they’re part of a drift, a sounder, a drove, or even a team, pigs have accumulated some of the most interesting collective nouns in the animal kingdom. Beyond their unusual group names, pigs are intelligent, social animals known for their strong memories, remarkable sense of smell, and ability to adapt to a wide range of environments.

The next time you see a group of pigs, you’ll know that the traditional term is a drift of pigs, while groups of wild pigs are often called sounders. And if those pigs happen to be drifting around muddy corners, wearing giant speakers, driving tiny cars, or huddling before the big game, you’ll know exactly why.

Keep exploring, because the English language is full of surprising collective nouns waiting to be discovered.

More Unusual Animal Group Names

Think pigs have strange collective nouns? Wait until you see what groups of these animals are called.

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