Synonyms for

Hens

Verb / henz / Another word for hens — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Hens are adult female chickens.

Synonyms & similar words

biddy hen chickens fowl pullets layers broilers roasters capons foul poultry yardbirds biddies hens chicks

Synonyms by register

Formal

female chickens laying hens

Informal

chickens birds

Literary

fowls pullets

Antonyms

roosters cocks males drakes boars stallions

Common collocations

  • laying hens
  • brooding hens
  • free-range hens
  • battery hens
  • young hens
  • old hens
  • clucking hens

Word family

noun hen

Usage note

Hens specifically refers to adult female chickens. While sometimes used informally to refer to chickens in general, this can be imprecise. The plural 'hens' is also sometimes used idiomatically to refer to women, especially in informal contexts.

Example sentences

  1. The farmer feeds the hens every morning.
  2. The hens cluck loudly when they lay eggs.
  3. The mother hen protects her chicks from danger.
  4. The rooster crows to wake up the hens.
  5. The hens scratch in the dirt for bugs and seeds.

Quotes

  • "All the hens in the barnyard, picking out their breakfast, Peck, peck, pecking with their beaks; Nodding chickens; one and all." - Anonymous
  • "What is sauce for the goose may be sauce for the gander but is not necessarily sauce for the chicken, the duck, the turkey, or the guinea hen." - Alice B. Toklas
  • "The chicken is a bird; the bird is an animal; the animal is a creation of God. When we abuse the chicken, we are not of God's mind." - Cesar Chavez

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