What does coho mean?
The coho is a species of Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, found throughout the North Pacific Ocean and the coastal rivers of western North America and northeastern Asia. Known popularly as the silver salmon for its bright, metallic coloration at sea, it is smaller than the chinook but prized for its firm, orange-red flesh and moderate fat content, making it a staple of both commercial fisheries and recreational angling. Coho spend one to two years at sea before returning to freshwater streams to spawn, typically in the autumn, when mature males develop vivid red sides and hooked jaws. The word itself comes from an Indigenous language of the Pacific Northwest coast and entered English through regional usage. Today the coho carries strong cultural resonance in places like Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, where its seasonal runs shape local cuisine, sport fishing, and conservation efforts alike.
nounA coho is a Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) native to the North Pacific Ocean and coastal rivers of western North America and northeastern Asia, valued both commercially and recreationally. The name also refers to this fish as food, its flesh being orange-red and moderately rich.
- A Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) of the North Pacific and adjacent rivers, prized by anglers and fisheries.
- The flesh of this fish used as food.
"Anglers lined the riverbank at dawn, waiting for the fall run of coho."
"Wild coho from Alaskan waters commands a premium at the fish counter."
"By late September, thousands of coho were pushing upstream past the hatchery gates."
The plural is normally unchanged, following the pattern of many fish names; 'cohos' appears occasionally but is less common.
"During the peak of the run, the river teemed with returning coho."
The coho's nickname says it all: fishermen call it the 'silver' because it gleams like chrome in the water — until spawning season, when males turn shocking red and grow a hooked snout.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coho
The word 'coho' was borrowed into English in the nineteenth century from an Indigenous language of the Pacific Northwest coast, most likely a Salishan tongue spoken around Puget Sound and the lower Fraser River. It arose alongside other salmon names taken from coastal Native American languages, such as 'sockeye' and 'chinook,' as English-speaking settlers adopted local terminology for the region's economically vital fish. The full form 'coho salmon' reflects the same pattern, pairing the borrowed name with the English word 'salmon.'
How coho is actually used
The term is most familiar in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada, where coho fishing is culturally and economically significant. 'Coho' and 'coho salmon' are used interchangeably; the plural is typically unchanged ('coho') or occasionally 'cohos'. In commercial contexts the fish is often marketed under the name 'silver salmon.'
Easily confused with coho
Sockeye is a different Pacific salmon species (Oncorhynchus nerka) with deeper red flesh and a stronger flavor, whereas the coho is the paler-fleshed 'silver' salmon.
The chinook (or king) salmon is the largest Pacific salmon species and has richer, deeper-red flesh, while the coho is smaller, silvery, and milder-tasting.