mussels

Mussels are a type of shellfish that people often eat.

When we talk about mussels, it's usually when we're at the beach or eating seafood. You might hear someone say "I'm going to pick some mussels from the shore" or "Mussels are on special at the restaurant tonight." People commonly use mussels in a sentence with something like "clam chowder," where they'd be talking about a type of soup that includes them, along with other seafood. Mussels can also be steamed as an appetizer or main course, often served with garlic and herbs for flavor. If you see "mussel" (singular) used in a sentence, it's probably referring to one particular mussel being eaten or discussed.