Scarfs or Scarves? The Correct Plural (and What a Scarf Is)

Short answer: both scarves and scarfs are correct plurals of scarf. Scarves is far more common in modern American and British English, so it is the safe choice.

If you came here wondering whether to write scarfs or scarves, that is the whole answer. Read on for why English has two plurals, how to handle possessives and verbs, a few common spelling traps, and a quick tour of what actually counts as a scarf.

Scarfs or scarves: which plural to use

Major dictionaries list both. If you have no style guide to follow, use scarves. Whichever you choose, stay consistent within the same piece of writing so readers do not wonder whether you mean two different things.

Why does scarf become scarves?

English has a group of nouns ending in -f or -fe that change to -ves in the plural: leaf → leaves, wolf → wolves, knife → knives, half → halves. Scarf follows the same pattern. Some words in this group, like scarf, dwarf and hoof, also accept a regular -s plural.

The pattern goes back to older English pronunciation, when an f sound between vowels was pronounced more like a v. Scarf arrived in English later than words like wolf and leaf. It is generally traced to an Old French word for a sash or a band worn across the body, the same root as modern French écharpe. Its -ves plural is usually explained as following the older words by analogy, which is why the regular scarfs never fully disappeared.

How other -f words form their plurals

There is no single rule that covers every word ending in -f, which is why this question comes up so often. A quick comparison:

When in doubt, check a current dictionary for the specific word rather than guessing from the ending.

Scarfs or scarves in everyday writing

A few practical points cover almost every situation you will meet.

• Possessive, singular: the scarf’s fringe (one scarf).
• Possessive, plural: the scarves’ colors (more than one scarf). Add only an apostrophe after the final s.
• Before another noun: use the singular, as with most English noun pairs: a scarf rack, a scarf collection, scarf care.
• Headings and product pages: scarves is what most readers expect to see, so it reads more naturally.

Spelling traps to avoid

• “Scarve” is not a standard singular. One scarf, two scarves.
• “Scarfes” is not a standard plural.
• “Scarve’s” mixes up the plural and the possessive. Use scarf’s or scarves’.

A quick way to remember

Pair the word with one you never get wrong: one leaf, two leaves; one scarf, two scarves. If you are talking about the clothing, the -ves form is always safe. If you are talking about eating quickly, think of the verb as completely separate and keep the f: he scarfs, she scarfed, they are scarfing.

And if you ever see scarfs in an older book, a crossword or a style guide, there is nothing to correct. It is simply the less common of two accepted spellings, not a mistake.

What does “scarf” mean?

As a noun, a scarf is a length or square of fabric worn around the neck, head or shoulders for warmth, protection or style.

The word has other meanings too:

• Verb (informal): to eat quickly — “he scarfed down his lunch”. In this sense the forms are scarfs, scarfed, scarfing, never “scarves”.
• Woodworking: a scarf joint joins two pieces of wood end to end with long, overlapping angled cuts.

The main shapes of scarf

• Long rectangle: the classic winter scarf, usually wool or cashmere, wrapped or knotted around the neck. Our wool scarf guide covers the most common fibers.
• Small square: folded into a band or triangle and tied as a neckerchief or bandana. See our neck scarf guide.
• Large square or wide rectangle: worn as a shawl, stole or wrap over the shoulders.
• Loop: an infinity scarf or snood, joined into a circle so there are no ends.

Other words for scarf

• Muffler: a warm winter scarf, often wool.
• Neckerchief: a small square scarf tied around the neck.
• Bandana: a square cotton scarf, usually patterned.
• Cravat / ascot: a formal neck scarf worn inside the shirt collar.
• Shawl, stole, wrap: larger pieces worn over the shoulders. See shawl vs scarf vs stole.
• Foulard: a lightweight silk or silk-like fabric, and a scarf made from it. See what is a foulard.
• Snood / infinity scarf: a scarf joined into a loop.

Scarf words you will see in product listings

Beyond the plural, a handful of terms come up again and again when scarves are described. Knowing them makes listings much easier to compare.

• Fringe: loose or twisted threads at the short ends. Check whether a listed length includes it.
• Selvedge: the finished edge along the length of a woven fabric that stops it from unraveling.
• Rolled hem: a narrow edge rolled and stitched by hand or machine, typical of silk squares.
• Twill: a weave with fine diagonal lines, common in silk and wool scarves.
• Herringbone: a twill that reverses direction to form a zigzag, a classic for wool.
• Rib knit: a stretchy knit with raised vertical lines, often used for chunky winter scarves.
• Brushed: a finish that raises the surface fibers for a softer, fuzzier feel.
• Blend: a fabric made from more than one fiber; look for the percentages.

For what these mean in practice, our best scarf material for winter guide explains how fiber and construction work together.

Examples

• “He owns three wool scarves.”
• “Browse our men’s scarves by material and color.”
• “The scarf’s fringe had started to fray.”
• “All four scarves’ labels said hand wash only.”
• “She scarfed down a sandwich before the meeting.” (verb)

Once you have more than one scarf, the next question is usually which one to wear when. Our guide to the best scarves for men helps you choose by climate and coat.

FAQ

Is “scarfs” wrong?

No. It is a recognized plural, just less common than scarves.

Do Americans and the British use different plurals?

Not in any important way. Scarves is the usual choice on both sides of the Atlantic, and both plurals are accepted in each.

Is “scarve” a word?

Not as a standard singular noun. The singular is always scarf; scarves is only the plural.

What is the past tense of scarf?

As a verb meaning to eat quickly, it is scarfed: “We scarfed the pizza.” The noun plural scarves never applies to the verb.

Is a muffler the same as a scarf?

A muffler is a type of scarf: a warm, usually woolen one worn around the neck in cold weather. Every muffler is a scarf, but a light silk neckerchief would not normally be called a muffler.

How do you say scarf in French?

A warm scarf is une écharpe; a light silk scarf is un foulard. Details in scarf in French.

Now that the grammar is settled, see how to wear a scarf or the different types of scarves.