Is the plural of roof, roofs or rooves?

[overtherainbow]

My DD(6) came home with her spellings today - she has to change the list of nouns into plurals. They are for example: elf, roof, branch, stitch. I thought 1 roof = roof, more than 1 = roofs. Am I wrong?

rooves
I think anything ending in f becomes ves. Like leaf, leaves.

elf, elves.

It's definitely rooves and elves but as for the rule, not sure if everything ends that way.

Yes is roofs, pronounced rooves, but spelt roofs.

No, just checked in dictionary and it's roofs.

X-post, ahundredtimes!

I thought it was roofs...

That's a 'very' interesting question.

When I was young (a long time ago), the plural of roof was rooves.

And yet, I haven't seen it spelt like that for ages. I have actually seen 'roofs' being used in lots of children's books lately, and I'm wondering whether it's changed.

I suspect that both are applicable, but that the school will take 'a certain line' which, of course, will be the correct one

The OED is your only recourse!

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Same - much too slow!

roofs

both are correct. I believe roofs is a more recent version though but it's def OK.

not all things that end in f have a v plural. proof > proofs etc

NO! It's Roofs, but elves.

Check Dictionary.com if you're not convinced!

roofs but wolves

I think roofs is the exception though?

And yet hoof/hooves.

dictiolnary.com is US though. think rooves might be the UK version.

elves roofs branches stitches

roofs

chuff chuffs

Chamber's dictionary also says roofs. It was roofs when I was young too. (and I'm nearly 10 years older than Desi......)

Roofs doesn't look right, I agree.

Will consult the Oxford Wordfinder

it says

pl. roofs or disp. rooves

So what the fuck does disp. mean??

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Debated here