Skiis or Skis: Which Spelling Is Correct?
Skis is the correct plural spelling.
Skiis is a misspelling.
Examples:
Correct: I bought new skis for winter.
Incorrect: I bought new skiis for winter.
Correct: Her skis were leaning against the wall.
Incorrect: Her skiis were leaning against the wall.
If you are talking about more than one ski, the correct word is skis with one i before the s.
What Does Skis Mean?
Skis is the plural form of ski. A ski is one of the long, narrow pieces of equipment worn on the feet for moving over snow.
Examples:
He put his skis in the car.
The rental shop has skis for beginners.
Her skis are too short.
The athlete waxed his skis before the race.
You usually use two skis when skiing, so the plural form skis is very common.
Is Skiis a Word?
Skiis is not the standard spelling. It is usually a mistake for skis.
The mistake is understandable because the singular word ski ends in i. Some people assume the plural should add another i before s, but that is not how the word works.
The correct pattern is simple:
ski → skis
Not:
ski → skiis
So if you are writing for school, work, an article, or a caption, use skis.
Skiis vs Skis: The Main Difference
The difference is spelling.
Skis = correct plural form
Skiis = incorrect spelling
Examples:
Correct: The skis are in the garage.
Incorrect: The skiis are in the garage.
Correct: We rented skis and boots.
Incorrect: We rented skiis and boots.
Correct: His skis slid smoothly over the snow.
Incorrect: His skiis slid smoothly over the snow.
If the word means more than one ski, write skis.
Why Is the Plural Skis?
Most English nouns form the plural by adding s.
Examples:
book → books
chair → chairs
shoe → shoes
ski → skis
Even though ski ends in i, it still takes a simple s in the plural.
That means you do not need to change the spelling or add another vowel.
Correct:
one ski
two skis
a pair of skis
many skis
The spelling stays short and simple.
How to Spell Skis
The correct spelling is:
S-K-I-S
It has only four letters.
Break it into parts:
ski + s = skis
The incorrect spelling skiis adds an extra i, which is not needed.
A helpful memory trick:
Ski already has one i. To make it plural, just add s.
So:
ski + s = skis
Not:
ski + i + s = skiis
Examples With Skis
Here are more examples using skis correctly:
The child carried her skis to the lift.
His skis got scratched on the rocks.
We need to rent skis before the lesson.
The skier placed his skis on the rack.
These skis are designed for powder snow.
My old skis are too heavy.
The shop sells skis, boots, helmets, and poles.
In each sentence, skis means more than one ski.
Ski as a Singular Noun
Use ski when talking about one piece of equipment.
Examples:
One ski came loose.
The left ski was damaged.
He lost a ski during the fall.
This ski is longer than the other one.
Use skis when talking about two or more.
Examples:
Both skis were damaged.
Her skis are red.
The rental skis were in good condition.
Ski as a Verb
Ski can also be a verb. It means to move over snow using skis.
Examples:
I learned to ski last winter.
They ski every weekend.
She wants to ski in Colorado.
He skied down the mountain carefully.
The verb forms are:
ski
skis
skied
skiing
Examples:
He skis every Saturday.
They skied yesterday.
We are skiing tomorrow.
Be careful: skis can be a plural noun or a verb.
Examples:
Plural noun: His skis are new.
Verb: She skis very well.
The meaning depends on the sentence.
Skis vs Ski’s
Another common mistake is writing ski’s when you mean the plural skis.
Incorrect:
I bought new ski’s.
Correct:
I bought new skis.
Use skis for more than one ski.
Use ski’s only when showing possession.
Examples:
The ski’s edge was damaged.
This means the edge of one ski was damaged.
The skis were damaged.
This means more than one ski was damaged.
Most of the time, when talking about equipment, you probably need skis, not ski’s.
Common Phrases With Skis
Here are common phrases using skis:
a pair of skis
Example: She bought a new pair of skis.
ski boots and skis
Example: The rental included ski boots and skis.
cross-country skis
Example: He prefers cross-country skis.
downhill skis
Example: These downhill skis are fast.
rental skis
Example: The resort offers rental skis for beginners.
All of these phrases use skis, not skiis.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is adding an extra i.
Incorrect: skiis
Correct: skis
Another mistake is using an apostrophe for the plural.
Incorrect: ski’s
Correct: skis
Another mistake is confusing skis as a noun with skis as a verb.
Examples:
Noun: The skis are in the closet.
Verb: He skis every winter.
Both are spelled the same, but they are used differently.
Memory Trick
Here is the easiest way to remember the spelling:
Ski already ends in i.
To make it plural, just add s.
ski + s = skis
You do not need another i.
Think:
One ski.
Two skis.
That is all.
Quick Test
Choose the correct spelling:
I need to wax my ___.
Answer: skis
She rented ___ for the weekend.
Answer: skis
The spelling ___ is incorrect.
Answer: skiis
One ___ broke during the race.
Answer: ski
He ___ every winter.
Answer: skis
Final Answer
Skis is the correct spelling.
Skiis is a misspelling.
Use ski for one piece of equipment.
Use skis for more than one.
Correct: I bought new skis.
Incorrect: I bought new skiis.
The easiest way to remember it is: ski + s = skis. Do not add an extra i.
