Plural of Wharf: Which One Is Actually Correct?
Quick Answer
The plural of wharf is wharves or wharfs. Both are correct. A wharf is a place next to water where boats stop to load and unload things.
One: The boat stopped at the wharf.
More than one: The city has many wharves along the river.
Wharf Becomes Wharves — See the Pattern
Look at these words. Can you see what happens?
- one wharf → two wharves
- one wolf → two wolves
- one scarf → two scarves
- one shelf → two shelves
Did you see the pattern? The -f at the end changes to -ves. This is a common rule in English for words that end in -f.
| One (singular) | More than one (plural) |
|---|---|
| wharf | wharves |
| wolf | wolves |
| scarf | scarves |
| shelf | shelves |
| leaf | leaves |
Why Both Wharves and Wharfs Are Correct
This word is special. Unlike wolf (where only “wolves” is correct), the word wharf has two correct plural forms:
- wharves — the older form. You will see this in British English and in books.
- wharfs — the newer form. This is more common in American English.
Both are in the dictionary. Both are correct. You can use either one. But if you are writing for a test or for school, wharves is the safer choice because it follows the -f → -ves rule.
Easy way to remember: Think of wolf → wolves. The word wharf follows the same pattern: wharf → wharves.
The Rule in One Line: Wharf ends in -f, so the plural is wharves (or wharfs).
How to Use Wharves in Everyday English
- The fishing boats are tied to the wharves. (more than one wharf)
- This city built five new wharves last year. (more than one)
- We walked along the old wharf by the harbour. (just one)
- The wharves were full of people watching the ships. (more than one)
- There is a small wharf at the end of the road. (just one)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make with this word.
Two Mistakes to Avoid With Wharf
Even native speakers sometimes pause and think, “Wait — is it wharves or wharfs?” So if you get confused, you are not alone. This is one of those words that trips everyone up.
Mistake 1: Writing “wharfes” or “wharven”
✗ The city has three old wharfes.
✓ The city has three old wharves.
✗ Many wharven were repaired last year.
✓ Many wharves were repaired last year.
Mistake 2: Thinking “wharfs” is always wrong
Some people think wharfs is a mistake. It is not. Both wharves and wharfs are correct. The only forms that are wrong are made-up words like “wharfes” or “wharven.”
✓ The old wharfs need repairs. (correct — American English)
✓ The old wharves need repairs. (also correct — British English)
How to remember: Think of wolf → wolves. Wharf works the same way: wharf → wharves. And if you forget and write “wharfs” instead, that is fine too.
Other words like this: scarf → scarves, wolf → wolves, shelf → shelves, leaf → leaves, half → halves.
Test Yourself: Wharf, Wharves, or Wharfs?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. The port has five busy _______.
2. The boat stopped at a small _______.
3. Several old _______ were repaired last summer.
4. There is only one old _______ left in the village.
5. Many old _______ have been turned into restaurants.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned the plural of wharf. That is one more plural you will never get wrong again.
But here is something interesting — the word wolf also ends in -f. You probably know what a wolf is. But do you know what happens when there is more than one? Is it “wolfs” or “wolves”? And is it the same rule as wharf — or different?
Next lesson: The Plural of Wolf: Why It Is Not Wolves for Everyone
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My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
