# elf

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɛlf/ · frequency rank #12,041

## Definitions
1. A supernatural being or spirit associated with illness, mischief, and harmful or dangerous magical influence; in later Norse sources, sometimes divided into benevolent light elves (inhabiting Álfheimr) and malevolent dark elves.
2. A small, magical creature similar to a fairy, often mischievous, playful, or occasionally helpful.
3. A member of a race of tall, slender, graceful beings with pointed ears, typically immortal or very long-lived and possessing wisdom and magical abilities.
4. Ellipsis of Christmas elf.
5. A very diminutive person; a dwarf.
6. Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix).

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *albʰósder.
Proto-Germanic *albiz
Proto-West Germanic *albi
Old English ielf
Middle English elf
English elf
From Middle English elf, from Old English ielf, ælf, from Proto-West Germanic *albi, from Proto-Germanic *albiz. Ultimately probably derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂elbʰós (“white”). Doublet of alf, awf, and oaf. The modern fantasy literature sense was popularised by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

## Easily confused with
- **ex** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-ex)
- **et** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-et)
- **EU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-eu)
- **em** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-em)
- **en** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-en)
- **er** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-er)
- **EP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-ep)
- **ES** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-es)
- **EV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-ev)
- **ew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-ew)
- **ey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-ey)
- **ez** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-ez)
- **eo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-eo)
- **end** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-end)
- **eye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-eye)
- **era** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-era)
- **eve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-eve)
- **est** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-est)
- **EPA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-epa)
- **EVA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elf-vs-eva)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/elf