What Is the Plural of Dwarf?
The Quick Answer
The plural of "dwarf" is "dwarfs" or "dwarves."- In mythology, dwarfs are often also described as short and ugly.
- Dwarves in folklore are usually described as old men with long beards.
Are You Good at Plurals?
Here's a quick test.The Standard Rules for Forming the Plurals
The table below shows the standard rules for forming the plurals of nouns in English.Type | Example of Type | Forming the Plural | Plural |
---|---|---|---|
Most Nouns | lamp scythe |
add s | lamps scythes |
Noun Ending s, sh, ch, x or z | bus dress |
add es | buses dresses |
Nouns ending [consonant] o | hero zero tomato |
add either s or es (There are no rules for this - you have to know.) |
heroes zeros tomatoes |
Nouns ending [vowel] o | patio ratio |
add s | patios ratios |
Nouns ending [consonant] y | story penny |
change the y to an i and add es | stories pennies |
Nouns ending [vowel] y | storey () donkey |
add s | storeys donkeys |
Nouns ending f or fe | loaf dwarf |
ves and/or s (There are no rules - you have to know.) |
loaves dwarfs or dwarves |
Exceptions | man louse |
some nouns undergo a vowel or letters change |
men lice |
More exceptions | salmon sheep |
some nouns do not change at all | salmon sheep |
Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Dwarf?
There is confusion because the rule for forming plurals with nouns ending in "f" or "fe" isn't straightforward. Most nouns will drop the "f" or "fe" and gain a "ves." For example:- "Knife" becomes "knives."
- "Wolf" becomes "wolves."
- "Safe" becomes "safes."
- "Cliff" becomes "cliffs."
- "Scarf" becomes "scarfs" or "scarves."
- "Hoof" becomes "hoofs" or "hooves."
Though "dwarfs" and "dwarves" are both accepted plurals, "dwarfs" is the more common of the two. (See the difference in Google's Ngram Viewer.)
You might also like...
Unusual pluralsPlural forming table
Quirks with forming plurals
Forming the plurals of abbreviations
Forming the plurals of compound nouns
Help us improve...
Was something wrong with this page?
Use #gm to find us quicker.
Create a QR code for this, or any, page.
teachers' zone
play:
confidence test on awkward pluralsread:
Forming plural nouns (table) Forming the plurals of compound nouns Apostrophe errors with plurals The plural forms of nouns, verbs, pronouns, etc.lists:
list of 150 awkward English plurals