What does ova mean?
Ova is the plural of ovum and usually refers to female reproductive cells, or egg cells. In medical and biological writing, it describes the cells produced by the ovaries that can be fertilized by sperm. In zoology and culinary contexts, ova can also mean animal eggs more generally, such as the eggs of fish or reptiles, and the word is sometimes used in dishes made with eggs. Because ova is a formal or technical expression, speakers usually use eggs in ordinary conversation. The term is especially useful when precision is important or when discussing reproduction, embryology, fertility, and developmental biology. Its singular form is ovum, while the Latin singular meaning “egg” also connects the word to related English terms including ovarian, ovate, and oviparous.
plural nounOva is the plural form of ovum, referring to female reproductive cells or egg cells. In biology, the term can also denote the eggs of animals such as fish and reptiles.
- Female reproductive cells or egg cells, especially in biological and medical contexts.
- The eggs of animals, especially fish, reptiles, birds, and invertebrates, when used in technical or formal language.
"The laboratory examined the ova under a microscope after collecting them from the female patient."
"Fertilization occurs when a sperm cell joins one of the ova."
"The dish is made with ova, spices, and a delicate sauce."
Ova is already the plural of ovum and normally has no further common plural form.
"The cycle produced several ova that were examined during IVF treatment."
The same Latin root behind ova lives on in words such as ovarian, ovate, and oviparous.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ova come from?
Ova comes from Latin ovum, meaning “egg,” through the Latin plural ova. The word entered scientific English in the singular form ovum and later developed the common plural ova, especially in biological and medical terminology. The same Latin root contributed to derivatives such as ovarian, ovulate, ovate, and oviparous, linking the word to the ovary and to the broader biological concept of an egg.
Related word forms
How ova is actually used
Ova is a formal or technical term and is less common in everyday speech than eggs. Its meaning depends on context: in human reproduction it refers to egg cells, while in food and zoology it may refer more broadly to animal eggs.
Easily confused with ova
An ovum is a singular female reproductive cell, while ova is its plural form.
Egg is the general everyday word for a reproductive body, while ova is more specific and is especially common in biological and technical contexts.