elves
5 synonyms for elves, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Small magical beings of folklore, often depicted as mischievous, long-lived and possessing supernatural powers.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use elves
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Santa's elves
house elves
woodland elves
elves and dwarves
Neutral. Elf as a verb is not standard, but elf yourself and elf on the shelf are fixed modern expressions.
Etymology
Plural of elf, from Old English ælf, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse álfr.
Full origin of elves →Frequently asked questions
Is the plural of elf elves or elfs?
Elves. English changes a final f to v before adding -es in a small group of old words: elf/elves, wolf/wolves, loaf/loaves. Elfs is only ever seen as a mistake or in a deliberately playful spelling.
What is the difference between elves and fairies?
In older folklore the terms overlap heavily and were often used for the same beings. Modern fantasy has separated them: elves are usually human-sized, dignified and long-lived, while fairies are small, winged and flighty.
Is it elvish or elven?
Both are used. Elvish is the older adjective and is also the usual name for the languages in Tolkien's work. Elven has become the more common adjective in modern fantasy and games, as in elven bow or elven armour.
